Gregor Affleck House, Bloomfield Hills, MI
The Gregor Affleck House is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and was completed in 1941. It sits on a unique lot, densely wooded, with no level ground, which allowed Wright to explore and refine his design for a home on sloping ground. The house is now owned by Lawrence Technological University. They give tours once a month. In June 2019, I was not there on the tour day but a man from the University was working on the driveway when I stopped by in the early evening. I told him I came all the way from California to look at the house and he offered to give me a personal tour. He even let me take photos of the interior. I couldn't believe my luck!
Source: Facebook
I think those openings are ventilation windows.
This shows what a well maintained house can look like, with mainly original fixtures throughout.
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Spring House, Tallahassee FL
Our second house didn't have much maintenance after hurricane and other weather-related damage.
The George and Clifton Lewis House, also known as Spring House was built in 1954 in Tallahassee, Florida. Its hemicycle design represents a late and little-known stage in Wrights long, prolific career. Over the years, the house suffered from hurricane and other weather-related damage and the current owner, Byrd Lewis Mashburn (daughter of the original owners) is trying to raise money for its restoration to the original design.
Here's where I first noticed the structural supports added.
It appears the roof has some structural damage. That will take a lot more money to correct.
This poor bathroom definitely has water damage
This poor house has such beautiful finishes, those that aren't damaged. Here on the left there's a balcony outside that leads to that pointed window of the hemicycle design.
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Shell Cottage, Cullenstown, County Wexford, Ireland
The Shell Cottage, located on the coastline of Cullenstown in County Wexford, Ireland, is a remarkable transformation of a 19th-century thatched farmhouse into an artistic masterpiece, crafted by Kevin Ffrench over the course of three decades. Through a meticulous process, Ffrench embellished the structure with an impressive collection of shells, procured from local fishermen and coastal areas. Highlights of this collection include scallop shells from Kilmore Quay and razor fish shells from Rosslare, as well as various other shells gathered from the surrounding shores. This distinctive creation exemplifies the harmonious integration of natural materials with artistic expression, showcasing the innovative potential of repurposing local resources.
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My health is such that I usually can be active about half the day, no matter what. Then the coughing starts which tires me out completely. Today I really need to grocery shop, though a friend picked up some essentials for me on Sunday. So I'm deferring the laundry to yet another day. I used to be to be able to do just one thing out of the house (laundry is over in a laundry room across the parking lot)...and I've been trying to extend again (as I did when doing physical therapy and lunch and getting ready for the trip to Ohio in May.) Ah, how the heck do I get back to that peak of activity? I just say, baby steps. And hang in there baby!
I'd be a single cat lady again in a heart beat (before the allergies to litter boxes kicked in.)
And I'll show you the progress on our little gazebo too!
No workers today, but there are side panels added. I do hope they don't plan to leave the roof open to the elements...
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Today's quote:
If you do what you did, you'll get what you got.
Used in addictions recovery, useful everyday.
The weather is no respecter of architectural reputations, is it? Though I would have thought that a bathroom might at least be constructed with materials that were not prone to water damage. Shell houses were quite the fashion for a while and collecting and importing shells was big business.
ReplyDeleteI find architects sometimes pay more attention to their artistic value at the expense of practicality. It leaves the owners scratching their heads and sometimes just going ahead and making the changes needed.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteThe houses are interesting, the shell cottage is really unique. I would like to see the gazebo done, it seems to take awhile to build. I hope you feel better! Take care, enjoy your day!
Oh the gazebo was just started this week, so I'm able to post a photo each day of it's progress. I'm hoping some roofing will come along before the forecast rain for the next several days.
Delete...I love the Gregor Affleck House!!!
ReplyDeleteIt does say everything a FLW house should.
DeleteHow cool that you got a personal tour of the first. I hope you can get over that nasty cough, or is it your new everlasting reality?
ReplyDeleteFirst, I think I forgot to put that the words were straight off Facebook, so someone else was taalking in first person. Mea culpa. Second, yes, everlasting reality might be a good way of describing chronic bronchiectasis, coughing a lot until I can breaathe. The aa keey is doubling itself...or maybe it's a finger problem.
DeleteIt's sad that the Spring House got damaged by the weather. The Shell house is unique. I hope you can get rid of that cough, it must be exhausting. Take care and have a great day.
ReplyDeleteYes, a cough to deal with forever. The doctor never will tell me what might come next. So I just keep coughing, using the machines and drugs, and am very grateful that the first half of the day I can usually get a little bit done. I think FLW didn't take into consideration the Florida weather at all, when designing the Spring House.
DeleteIs it leaf mold triggering your coughing now?
ReplyDeleteNo, I am sensitive to anything in the air, dust for instance. But this is a chronic cough where I have to clear mucous out of my lungs to get my breath...every day the rest of my life. The good news is having machines and drugs that keep it manageable. I've used machines and drugs about 10-12 years already. And I do have good days!
DeleteMarcia, just look up Bronchiectasis to find out what the disease, a branch of COPD, is all about.Much more than allergies.
DeleteI know how it is not to be able to get as much done as you want. As you say, baby steps. Those are some amazing houses!
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting, and I usually don't read later in the day comments...so today I can reply. Yes those houses are amazing, and I think the finishes have become the primary subject, where at one point I would have looked for the structure and design. But the materials ruled.
DeleteI don’t think I’ve seen a hemicycle home before. Unusua!
ReplyDelete