| A Tale of Two Houses | |
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Continued from The House Wright Hated > Page 1, 2, 3, 4 |
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In his first version, Wright lavished the Nathan G. Moore House with "Elizabethan" details. The house was three-stories high. On the upper gables, half-timbering formed intricate patterns. Inside, dark paneling and eight fireplaces gave rooms the atmosphere of a British men's club. Long rows of diamond-paned windows offered scenic views of surrounding gardens. Ornamental balustrades formed the garden walls.
Ornamental balustrades at the Nathan G. Moore House
Photo copyright © Steve Estes. Reprinted with permission.
But the Moore House was not a slavish exercise in historical recreation. "It was the first time," Wright recalled, "an English half-timbered house ever saw a porch."
When he rebuilt the Nathan G. Moore House,
Frank Lloyd Wright added a steeper roof and exotic details.
Photo copyright © Steve Estes. Reprinted with permission.
In 1922, an electrical fire destroyed the entire top half of the house. Wright, now old enough to know better, had a chance to rethink his design. But although he was more restrained in his use of half-timbering, he retained the Tudor flavor. He eliminated the third story, but he made the pitch of the roof even steeper. The decorative balustrades remained and the new house was given an exotic array of ornamental details.
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