Talk on Frank Lloyd Wright’s Suntop – The Ardmore Experiment

CHESTERBROOK » Lower Merion resident Christian Busch will be at the historic Duportail House, 297 Adams Drive in Chesterbrook on Wednesday, November 15 as guest speaker of Tredyffrin Historic Preservation Trust’s Fall Lecture Series to present “Frank Lloyd Wright’s Suntop and the Genesis of the ‘Modern’ American Home”.

Owner and founding principal of 20th Century Preservation, LLC, an award-winning architecture and preservation consulting firm in Ardmore, Mr. Busch will lead the discussion of Frank Lloyd Wright’s local influence with an exploration of The Suntop Homes. Designed by Wright in 1938 and built in Ardmore, PA, Suntop represents an early example of Wright’s USONIAN principles; similar to those seen at his celebrated Fallingwater in western Pennsylvania.

One of America’s greatest architects, Frank Lloyd Wright interpreted social change in America during the 1930’s as the new American lifestyle first into architectural theory, then design and finally built form. It was during this period that Wright’s first ‘USONIAN’ homes were built, incorporating “natural” materials and the latest advancements in construction technology.

Known as “The Ardmore Experiment”, Wright’s original plan called for more than a dozen, three-story units with roof terraces located in six individual buildings. In every structure, four residences were designed around one central point—an inner courtyard of sorts—in a pinwheel fashion. This would allow the homes both communal space and privacy; no home ever directly faced another.

Wright’s revolutionary architecture rethought the traditional relationships between the private and public spaces in the home and recast them in forms that we still recognize today as ‘modern.’ The lecture will take a closer look at the unique design of his Suntop homes.

Tredyffrin Historic Preservation Trust presents “Frank Lloyd Wright’s Suntop and the Genesis of the ‘Modern’ American Home” as part of its Fall 2017 Lecture Series. A reception will be held at 7 p.m., followed by the lecture at 7:30 p.m. Ticket price is $15. Tickets may be purchased online at www.tredyffrinhistory.org or at the door on Nov. 15.

For questions or reservation information, contact Polly Hagan, 610-647-1051.

Suntop in Ardmore.