Gordon House (Oregon)
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Gordon House is a residential house designed by influental architect Frank Lloyd Wright as part of his Usonian vision for America. It is the second and last of the series designed for working-class U.S. consumers, which—in 1939—was considered $5,000–6,000 per year.[1] It is based on a design for a modern home commissioned by Life Magazine in 1938 at a time when Wright had little work.[2]
The house was designed in 1957 for Evelyn and Conrad Gordon,[3] and finished in 1963 (four years after Frank Lloyd Wright's death) originally located adjacent to the Willamette River near Wilsonville, Oregon, United States. When its 2001 owners intended to destroy it, the Frank Lloyd Wright Conservancy obtained a three-month reprieve to dismantle[2] and move it to the Oregon Garden,[1] about 21 miles (34 km) southeast of its original location. Dismantling began March 9, 2001. The upper floor, containing two bedrooms and one bath, was moved as a single unit.[2] Overall neglect required refurbishing of the structure's siding and roofing which was arranged by grants from the Architectural Foundation of Oregon and the Oregon Cultural Trust.[4] A new foundation replicating the original was constructed.[2] The house opened one year later as the only publicly accessible Frank Lloyd Wright home in the Pacific Northwest.
The house has 2,133 ft² (203 m²) of floor space with twelve-foot (366 cm) floor-to-ceiling windows and Wright's classic horizontal designs and features which connect the interior and exterior. It is constructed of cedar and cinder block and continues Wright's tradition of custom patterned wood cutout window known as fretwork.
Gordon House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 22, 2004.[4] It is cared for by the Gordon House Conservancy and available for small catered gatherings.[3] When not reserved, the house is available for public tours.
[edit] Gallery
 Main entrance near carport is door at right; the left service door enters between kitchen and laundry |
 Living room configured for a small event |
 Overview shows chimney concealed for enhanced horizontal lines |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Bart King. An Architectural Guidebook to Portland—Bonus Buildings!. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
- ^ a b c d North Shore Productions, Portland, Oregon (March 21, 2002). Moving Usonia: The only Frank Lloyd Wright house in Oregon has to be destroyed in order to be saved (QuickTime (.mov) 240x151px). Oregon Art Beat Episode 323. KOPB-TV. Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
- ^ a b The Gorden House by Frank Lloyd Wright. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
- ^ a b Elsa Coleman, Molly Murphy (June 7, 2006). Welcome to the Fretwork Network E-Newsletter!. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
