Babbling Brook Building Trivia Quiz

Answer: Kaufmann

Liliane and Edgar Kaufmann, Sr., owners of Kaufmann's Department store, had corresponded with Wright for many years. It wasn't until their son, Robert Kaufmann, jr. (this is not a typo, but the way he preferred his name), had apprenticed at Taliesin that the opportunity arose for Wright to recommend building the Kaufmann's a summer house.

The Kaufmanns already owned property and a summer house at Bear Run, and when it needed replacing, they commissioned Wright.

Answer: Bear Run, tributary of the Youghiogheny River

Wright visited the site in December, 1934, and a survey was commissioned. The original plans were presented to Kaufmann, Sr., during an unplanned visit to Taliesin. The story told is that Kaufmann called from Milwaukee in September, 1935, where he was conducting other business, and said that he'd like to view the plans for the new summer house. While Kaufmann drove from Milwaukee to Taliesin, Wright busily began drawing and then presented them to Kaufmann when he arrived.

Though the Kaufmann's original thoughts had been to build a summer house with a view of the waterfalls, Wright built the structure above it.

Answer: cantilever

During construction there were disagreements between Wright and the contractor, Walter Hall, who was on-site, about the amount of steel included in the concrete slabs. Kaufmann also expressed concern. It was doubled from Wright's initial design, and still there was a sag which grew to approximately seven inches.

In 1996 Robert Silman Associates performed a structural analysis and implemented a plan to stabilize the structure, but leave the seven inch sag that had developed.

Answer: frame imbedded into the stone

Where the window glass meets the stone wall, the frame is invisible, with the stone built up around it, and the glass just appears to end at the wall. Apparently this was another element to ensure an unimpeded view.

Answer: fireplace hearth

One story goes that the height of the main floor had been determined by this stone as it had been "Kaufmann's favorite spot for lying in the sun and listening to the falls".

Answer: one beam has curve around the tree

This is cited as one of the many examples of how Wright used what nature provided to create a building at one with nature. There were trees and other natural plants that were required to come down before building on the site, but this is one of instances where the building incorporated nature.

Answer: a cutout for the window to open

The desk is built in next to a full length window which swings inward, and the cutout provides the room for the window to open. Wright designed the bookcases and the built in furniture as well as working with Liliane Kaufmann to advise on the rest of the furnishings. He was paid $4500 for the furnishings.

Answer: staircase to the water

There is a hatch in the main room on the first level that opens to a stairway which runs down to the stream. The stream there is shallow, but the opening symbolically links the house to the water and, practically, the open hatch cools the structure and lets in more of the sound of the falls.

Answer: Better Homes and Gardens

The January 1938 issue of "The Architectural Forum" was designed and written by Wright. The "Time" magazine came out on January 17, 1938, with a cover picture of Wright and Fallingwater as well as an article including biographical information and photographs. As far as I can find, the January 17, 1938, issue of "Life" included a full page ad for Wright, but a September 26, 1938, issue published the results of several invited architects' designs for "dream homes", which included one from Wright.

Wright would be 71 in 1938, and would this would launch him into what some have labeled as the third phase of his career.

Answer: Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

This is a nonprofit organization to protect the water, land and life of western Pennsylvania. With the house, 1,543 acres were also donated. The Conservancy is required to preserve and maintain the buildings, and has commissioned several preservation projects. In addition, they provide tours of the house and grounds.