Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House

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Meet Darwin Martin the client, meet Darwin Martin the man

Meet Darwin Martin the client, meet Darwin Martin the man

Remarkable study of a remarkable house

Simply the Finest Recent Book on Wright

Must read for those interested in Wright or Buffalo

Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House
Jack Quinan
Manufacturer: Princeton Architectural Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
General | Architects, A-Z | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Wright, Frank Lloyd | Architects, A-Z | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
United States | International | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1568984197

Book Description

The Darwin D. Martin House in Buffalo, New York, is one of Frank Lloyd Wright's earliest and most important masterpieces. Built in the prairie style, this large residential complex was designed, landscaped, and extensively furnished by the architect. The history of its creation, recorded in over 400 letters exchanged between Wright and Martin, forms a fascinating biography not only of the house but of its architect and client.
In this detailed account of the Martin House commission, Quinan mines the Wright-Martin correspondence, along with the physical artifacts and architectural remains of the house, which is currently under restoration, to investigate Wright's often-made claim that his buildings "portray" their clients. The author presents an account of one of Wright's greatest works of "architecture as portraiture" that lends new insight into the ambitions and working methods of this much-studied architect.
Frank Lloyd Wright aficionados will join architects, preservationists, and fans of biography in appreciating the fresh perspective Quinan brings to our understanding of this great American architect and this exceptional house.

Customer Reviews:

Meet Darwin Martin the client, meet Darwin Martin the man.......2007-03-25

This book puts flesh on the bones of Brendan Gill's observation that for most of Wright's clients, working with Wright was one of the highpoints of their lives. Reading the book was entertaining and instructive, as well as inspiring.

Martin's rise to the very top of American business is portrayed with sympathy and insight, as is his continued search, beyond that, for a sense of security and fulfillment. Wright's immense talent is granted full respect, but his towering ego and his insouciant disregard for all things practical are also presented fully and fairly.

The relationship between these two compelling figures is presented with drama and flair. I felt as though I had spent time in their company. As Martin's career wound down and he died, I felt bereft. The history of the house after his death was shocking. What a great thing that people have come together to rescue it and restore it to its former grandeur.

At least once a year, I make the three-and-a-half-hour drive from my home to Wright's Wyoming Valley School, which sits vacant some five miles south of Taliesin. I walk around the school, peek in the windows, and feel Wright's presence under the stunning cantilevered roof of the entryway as I look out from under it and across the highway at the rolling hills of southwestern Wisconsin that so captivated Wright. This book gave me a similar feeling of closeness to Wright. It is a magnificent contribution to our understanding of Wright and his clients.

Meet Darwin Martin the client, meet Darwin Martin the man.......2007-01-26

Remarkable study of a remarkable house.......2006-03-12

There is much to be recommended in Quinan's exploration of Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House. The book vividly illustrates the tangled-up dynamics of client/architect relations through a fascinating selection of letters, and it thoroughly documents the evolution of the house's design from concept sketch to finished product. Quinan has assembled a wealth of analytic drawings, comparison drawings with other Wright houses, details, original working drawings, period photographs, and construction photographs. There are few such thorough studies of any house in print.

Wright's enormous talent and equally outsized ego shines through the entire work. Indeed it's in the smaller moments that one realizes how relentless his own mythmaking really was - for instance a cable in which Wright answers his patron's request for 26 items of furniture, with "Not yet designed on paper -will be soon." It conjures an image of confident Wright bringing the design complete out of the rarified air of his genius, like Mozart writing out symphonies in one pass.

But unfortunately Quinan seems to have fallen under this spell as well. While a provocative concept, Quinan's concluding discussion of "architecture as portraiture" really draws little further insight into Wright, the house, or the client. The book too quickly rests its case on the aesthetic merits of the house without challenge, and doesn't seem to consider the possibility that the house may be anything but a total masterpiece. By the end of the book Quinan has documented what might be considered as failures of the house - from typical cost overruns, delays, to more serious client dissatisfaction and eventual abandonment of the house - but these are treated as merely historical accident. That the evidence could be read differently is a testament to the thoroughness and inclusiveness of Quinan's work.

Simply the Finest Recent Book on Wright.......2005-01-17

As an Owner of FLW's Davenport House, Architect, and Wright Researcher, I found this to be the finest recent book on Wright. The insights into the development of the design, client relationship, Wright,s letters, the extraordinary quality of the photographs, the quality of the writing and the exquisite physical quality of the book make this an exceptional book. This book is a sheer pleasure to read, immersing one's self into the thinking of Wright as he deals with a nearly unlimited budget, a supportive client, and the usual challenges of getting a building built.

Must read for those interested in Wright or Buffalo.......2004-12-17

As a owner of dozens of books about Wright and having spent countless hours learning about Darwin Martin this book is an extraordinary glimpse of not only the Client relationship but of the enormous growth of Buffalo business at the turn of the century. The quality of each photo is worth the purchase price alone

Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House Complex

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Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House Complex
Lesley Neufeld
Manufacturer: Martin House Restoration Corp.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0972482806
Release Date: 2004-10-01

Product Description

Frank Lloyd Wright described the Martin House as "...the most perfect thing of its kind in the world - a domestic symphony, true, vital, comfortable." This little book describes the extensive prairie style Martin House Complex in Buffalo, New York from its inception in the early 1900's to it's current restoration; the relationship between Frank Lloyd Wright and his patron and client, Darwin Martin; the buildings with their extraodinary art glass; and the relationship of Frank Lloyd Wright and Buffalo.

Frank Lloyd Wright: Windows of the Darwin D. Martin House

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Frank Lloyd Wright: Windows of the Darwin D. Martin House

Manufacturer: Burchfield-Penney Art Center
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0922668213

Rescue of a Landmark: Frank Lloyd Wright's Darwin D. Martin House

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Rescue of a Landmark: Frank Lloyd Wright's Darwin D. Martin House

Manufacturer: Western New York Wares, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000I10ROK

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Rescue of a Landmark: Frank Lloyd Wright's Darwin D. Martin House
Marjorie L. Quinlan
Manufacturer: North Country Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Criticism | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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The Darwin D. Martin House: A study in process

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The Darwin D. Martin House: A study in process
John D O'Hern
Manufacturer: s.n
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Frank Lloyd Wright and the destruction of the box

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Frank Lloyd Wright and the destruction of the box
H. Allen Brooks
Manufacturer: Society of Architectural Historians
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0006XDQB6

Frank LLoyd Wright's Darwin D. Martin House: Historical report and analysis of original conditions

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Frank LLoyd Wright's Darwin D. Martin House: Historical report and analysis of original conditions
John D O'Hern
Manufacturer: s.n
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

His house was his oasis: At Taliesin West in Arizona, Frank Lloyd Wright cultivated his personal Garden of Eden

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His house was his oasis: At Taliesin West in Arizona, Frank Lloyd Wright cultivated his personal Garden of Eden
Martin Filler
Manufacturer: Condé Nast Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0006YGKG8

His house was his story: Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin was more than a place to hang his famous hat : it was the embodiment of his eventful life and indomitable creative spirit

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His house was his story: Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin was more than a place to hang his famous hat : it was the embodiment of his eventful life and indomitable creative spirit
Martin Filler
Manufacturer: Condé Nast Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0006YGDHO

Book Description

Ingmar Bergman is worldwide known as a film and stage director. Yet no-one has attempted to compare his stage and screen activities. In Between Stage and Screen Egil Törnqvist examines formal and thematical correspondences and differences between a number of Bergman's stage, screen, and radio productions. In the prologue Bergman's spiritual and aesthetic heritage and his position in the twentieth century media landscape is outlined. In the epilogue the question is answered to what extent one can speak of Bergman's directorial 'method' irrespective of the chosen medium.

Radio Music Directing (Electronic Media Guide)

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Radio Music Directing (Electronic Media Guide)
Donna L. Halper
Manufacturer: Focal Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Recording & Sound | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General Broadcasting | Radio | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General & Reference | Technology | Science | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0240800818

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Radio Music Directing
Donna Halper
Manufacturer: Focal Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OPM0CM

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A Book to Read Over and Over

Bermuda Pie-Angle

Comedic Relief to Life and History

The Bermuda Pie-Angle
Gary Gifford
Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 155395596X
Release Date: 2006-07-06

Book Description

G.K. Gifford nearly drowned in the Bermuda Triangle after hitting his head on a submarine... he survived, as did his strange sense of humor to bring us this collection of drawings, cartoons and word play.

Customer Reviews:

A Book to Read Over and Over.......2005-12-21

I enjoy this book a lot. It is unusual, funny, and refreshing. Generally I am not a great fan of cartoons, but this one is different. The drawings are excellent, and the word plays are unique. The whole book is full of surprises. Beside cartoons it contains jokes, and verses, even some serious ones. The author has quite an interesting background. His unusual imagination and versatile talent shine through the pages.

Bermuda Pie-Angle.......2004-04-12

Mix some Gary Larsen, a bit of Gahan Wilson, a salting of Scott Adams, stir in a little Mason Williams and a dash of Steven Wright and you have Gary K. Gifford's cartoon and word play book, The Bermuda Pie-Angle.

A delightful and entertaining book that has something for just about everybody. His unique mix of humor, verse and commentary is delightful. In the recesses of your mind, you have thought things like those that Gifford has put on paper. If you are a bit jaded by the ordinary, this book is for you.

It is entertaining and enjoyable while being thought provoking at the same time. It releases your mind to explore beyond the mundane events of ordinary life. It gives a different perspective to things you thought you already knew.

Gifford's first publishing effort belies the years of effort behind its creation. From his days in the navy sailing in the Mediterranean through his current job working on technical documents, he has maintained his creative interests.

I suggest that you read only a few pages per sitting. It is not a book to "read", but to savor slowly. Like a Dali painting, an observer must look beyond the first glance for the deeper humor and the ancillary aspects. Gifford's accompanying narrative gives insight into a thoughtful man who thinks in many dimensions while retaining a sense of humor and reality.

Comedic Relief to Life and History.......2003-07-24

The author manages to apply subtle humor to specific incidents. Although I did not relate to all of the scenarios presented in the book, I did find myself laughing audibly throughout the text. I am sure that there is more personal significance to some of the illustrations that is unclear to the reader; however, I believe the artistry of Gifford truely captures the comedic intent.

Overall, I find the book to be refreshing. I enjoy the mental stimulation required to comprehend some of the humor. I find myself occassionally referring back to Bermuda Pie-Angle for a good laugh or to share with others. Question is? When is Gifford going to release another book?

Book Description

Hardbound.

Book Description

Working professionals have been left in the lurch during the past decade, as organizations have downsized their writing staffs or eliminated them altogether. More and more, the writing tasks are falling on technical professionals, managers, etc. If you find yourself in that situation . . . this is the book to get you through!

Customer Reviews:

Review from the journal "Technical Communication".......2002-12-23

Review of: Technical and Business Writing for Working Professionals by Ray E. Hardesty

(Review appeared in Technical Communication: The Journal of the Society for Technical Communication, May 2002. Reviewed by Laura A. MacLamale, M.A.)

As industries evolve, so do the roles of employees. For example, the e-commerce evolution marked a need for corporate Webmasters, and employees had to adopt the skills necessary to assume a corporate Internet presence. In the evolving corporate structure and workplace, non-technical employees may need to acquire technical skills, and technical employees may need to acquire skills in information design and writing. This concept of technical employees acquiring writing skills is the principal focus of Technical and Business Writing for Working Professionals, written by Ray E. Hardesty, former book review editor of Technical Communication.
Hardesty credits the "change...in the business world" with placing writing responsibilities "on the shoulders of professionals for whom writing is not their primary specialty." The author states his goal up front: "to serve the audience of working professionals who may need a concise refresher course on the use of the English language in general and the use of language in the professional world in particular."
At 229 pages, including an index, the book is a fairly quick read. It's divided into three main parts: "Basics of English, "Technical Writing," and "Business Writing." Each of these main sections consists of several separate lessons, and each lesson has a "Memory Solidifier" at the end for self-quizzing.
"Basics of English" provides an overview of standards of the language, with emphasis on parts of speech and sentence structure. "Technical Writing" offers a discussion of standards and styles that establish the ideal approach to your audience. "Business Writing" contains suggested approaches to communicating in industry, from electronic memos to oral presentations.
The first section is intended as a primer for busy professionals and students with more experience on the technical side than the writing side. Hardesty breaks the section into chapters based on the parts of speech. Although the general discussion of various components of grammar is helpful, some of the examples could be stronger to directly clarify the concepts that they are intended to support.
For writing professionals, the section is more of a resource to consult occasionally for the basics. My copy has some highlighted notes on some concepts that need reinforcement from time to time. (Reminders on the proper uses of that and which, and restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses are always appreciated.)
The second section, "Technical Writing," highlights the "rules" of good technical writing. This section is aimed at technical employees who are familiar with the content but not with the task of explaining it to a non-technical audience. Here you will find practical advice about acronyms, units of measure, syntax and usage, and other writing conventions. This section also emphasizes the need to "Visualize your readers!" This consideration is necessary for all technical writers, but especially for those who are familiar with communicating advanced technical concepts with other subject matter experts but not to a non-technical audience.
The third section, "Business Writing," is the strongest. All types of business communication are discussed here, from e-mail and letters, to reports and proposals. The author again stresses the importance of "visualizing your audience" across the various media. The chapter on the internal report is relevant to both technical and non-technical writers who are required to write white papers in their jobs. (White papers describe a product, service, or technology, and are usually circulated within an organization to influence a business decision.) Those who are charged with writing them would find applicable information on organization and content here.
The discussion of proposal writing is also relevant to writers of all stripes, as this seems to be a form of communication that many professionals and students are not familiar with. A somewhat specialized niche in writing, proposal writing can be particularly demanding, detail-oriented, and deadline-driven. Requests for proposals are usually quite specific in their requirements, and the proposal writer's precision becomes extremely important.
Because this section covers the everyday writing that all industry employees are likely to participate in at one time or another, "Business Writing" is probably the most relevant portion of this book, and the most thorough.
The "Memory Solidifiers" throughout the book may also contribute to its value as a resource, for they allow readers to make notes on their own terms and view those notes as needed when questions arise. For readers who prefer to consult their own notes rather than scan through textbooks, the "Memory Solidifiers" would be an added bonus.
In my current position, we have the opportunity to train business professionals in writing skills. For that purpose, I would recommend this book to the trainer as a source of topical overviews and demonstration ideas. The "Business Writing" section would be my main reason for recommending this book, in part because it's the strongest and in part because it's the most relevant to our purpose.
Indeed, as industries evolve, so do our roles. Although the audience for this review contains many technical communicators, the target audience of this book would include a larger pool of employees with less writing experience. For that audience, the book would be a good introduction to basic concepts. It would make a handy quick reference to keep on hand, along with a standard such as Strunk and White's The Elements of Style. For an audience of technical communicators, this book would be a companion piece to both Strunk and White and a technical style guide as a reinforcer of the principles of effective business communication.

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Technical Communication, published by Society for Technical Communication on November 1, 1995. The length of the article is 5078 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the supplier: The study explores the phenomenon of non-collaboration between US industry and the academe whereas other industrialized nations are practicing such partnership. Ways of overcoming the differences between the two fields are suggested. Benefits from industry-academe partnership are also pointed out.

Citation Details
Title: Collaborative partnerships: academia and industry working together.(Symposium Part IV)
Author: Deborah S. Bosley
Publication: Technical Communication (Refereed)
Date: November 1, 1995
Publisher: Society for Technical Communication
Volume: v42 Issue: n4 Page: p611(9)

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Technical and business communication for working professionals. (Book Reviews).: An article from: Technical Communication

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Technical and business communication for working professionals. (Book Reviews).: An article from: Technical Communication
Laura A. MacLemale
Manufacturer: Society for Technical Communication
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Technical Communication, published by Society for Technical Communication on May 1, 2002. The length of the article is 1099 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Technical and business communication for working professionals. (Book Reviews).
Author: Laura A. MacLemale
Publication: Technical Communication (Refereed)
Date: May 1, 2002
Publisher: Society for Technical Communication
Volume: 49 Issue: 2 Page: 226(2)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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