Bear Run, in rural southwest Pennsylvania is designated
 as a scenic river. The closest “big” city would
be Farmington, Pennsylvania.
In 1935, the wealthy Kaufmann family
wanted to build a second home in the
woods there.  They loved this waterfall
on Bear Run, and wanted their friend,
renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright
to design a home looking at the waterfall.
Instead, Wright proposed building the home
ON TOP OF the waterfall. 
At the time Wright designed the home,
he was 67, at the end of his career.
This revolutionary design was immediately
hailed by Time magazine as Wright’s
finest work, when he graced their
cover in 1938.
 
Fat marmots roam the grounds, which are like being
in the middle of a national park.  Oak, maple
and hickory trees stand next to evergreen hemlocks.
Wright’s signature style was “organic
architecture” down to the smallest
details.  Look at the care he took to
incorporate this tree without harm.
Since dampness was a factor with the house on top
of a constantly rushing waterfall, materials used
were stone, glass, steel and concrete.  Glass
was imbedded directly into the stone walls to
keep out moisture while providing an unobstructed
view with maximum sunlight.
This cantilevered concrete passageway between
the guest house and the main house must have
made the contractors tear their hair out.  The
Kaufmann’s wanted Wright to design a home for
about $35,000.  The final cost was $155,000.
Wright’s fee was $8,000.  The cost to rebuild it
today?  A cool $12 million.
Wright designed all the furniture
in the home.  See how an open arc is
cut into the desk to allow the
floor to ceiling window to open?

               

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