Frank Lloyd Wright's integration philosophy in Hollyhock House design

Hollyhock House and Site Integration

The ability to blend architecture into the natural surroundings is a hallmark of Frank Lloyd Wright's designs. Hollyhock House was designed for Aline Barnsdall, an oil heiress from Bradford, Pennsylvania. The design of the house reflected the preferences of an unconventional, independent woman. Barnsdall had a passion for the arts and could be considered an eccentric, even by today's standards. Frank Lloyd Wright had a flair for the unconventional in design as well. Together they created the most unusual home design of their era. Hollyhock House was the result of their collaboration.

History of Hollyhock House

Hollyhock House was built between 1919 and 1923 in Los Angeles. One of the key challenges that Wright faced was that he wanted to make certain that the design of Hollyhock House blended with the established architectural style of Southern California. Although Wright's designs often stood out from those in the local area, he still did not want his designs to look out of place. Wright referred to the architectural style of Southern California as California Romanza, which means "freedom to makes one's own form."

One of the key features of Wrights' designs is their ability to take advantage of the natural surroundings. The key was to work with the natural landscape and climate, rather than to attempt to change it. Wright's designs appear to spring from the land itself, rather than appear to be "placed" there by human intervention. This philosophy permeates throughout Wright's work and Hollyhock House is no exception.

Holly Hock house was designed to take advantage of Los Angeles' dry, temperate climate. Wright's key to design was integration of all of the house elements. For instance, rather than treating the house and garden separate, they were designed as an integral part of the whole. Major interior space connects with the exterior space. Wright took advantage of the scenery surrounding the Hollywood Hills through the use of rooftop terraces.

Hollyhocks were integrated throughout the house as a design element to reflect the preferences of Barnsdall. This central theme tied the architectural theme together and served to soften the lines created by square concrete structures. The house uses straight lines and harsh angle, unlike the free flowing circular lines of the art deco period. This makes the house appear to be more Eames Era than art deco. Hollyhock House appears to be anachronistic when one realized that it was built 30 years before this type of design became popular.

Design Challenges

Frank Lloyd Wright thrived on challenge. One of the key challenges faced by Wright was to integrate the requirements of a tough customer into the design concept. Barnsdall was an eccentric member of the local arts community. Wright's challenge was to meet her list of requirements and design a building that stood out as a center of the arts, but at the same time, did not look out of place. One typically does not consider the floral designs required by Barnsdall to be a good match for the harsh lines and square angles used in house.

In order to accommodate the needs of the design and those of the owner, Wright used hollyhocks and floral designs to help soften the harsh lines created by the concrete. This allowed the work to flow, rather than to bring out the contrast created by these two opposing elements. Contrast is the key to Wright's work. However, this is difficult ground from a design perspective, as one must be careful not to make the building seem out of place in the natural landscape. Consider the following photo and the contrast between the concrete walls set against the rolling green hills in the background.

Photo Credit: Christy Rogers, 1998

This is an excellent example of how lines were used to contrast and draw attention to the natural landscape, rather than acting as a separate element. Notice how the angle of the top edge of the roof closely matches that of the hills in the background. This is a typical design feature of Wright's work and the central reason why his buildings appear to be a natural part of the landscape, rather than an imposition. Similar design elements can be seen throughout Hollyhock House and many other Frank Lloyd Wright pieces.

On the interior of the house, Wright uses light and shadow to highlight the design elements of the house.

Photo Source: Marry Sullivan, 1999.

This attention to light and detail is what gives Wright's work the dramatic overall effect for which he is famous. Wright pays attention to close-up detail, without sacrificing the overall visual effect.

The design of Hollyhock House is not without criticism. Wrights' ceilings have been called "claustrophobically low." One of the key criticisms of Hollyhock House is that is not a friendly, comfortable house. The stark lines can make is appear to be cold and stark. It is more like a museum than a house. Therefore, the final intention of the design must be questioned. It might be noted that Barnsdall only lived in the house before donating it to the City of Los Angeles for use as an art center. Hollyhock House has also been criticized for resembling a Mausoleum more than a home environment. Its walls have been called "tomblike." Building materials also play an important role in the "feel" of the house.

Hollyhock House and several of the surrounding structures were placed on the registry of National Historic Landmarks due to the visual character of the house, which deviated from traditional designs of the period. Hollyhock house inspired Post-war house design and the transition into streamlined design of the Eames Era. As architects tackle the challenges of designing buildings that combine function with the natural beauty of the surrounding environment, they can look to Hollyhock House and other works of Frank Lloyd Wright for inspiration.