I finished reading “Frank Lloyd Wright’s Larkin Building” by Jack Quinan just recently and it made me think about what potentially lays ahead for the site of where it once stood.

Its an issue that people have very strong opinions on. A lot would love to see it be rebuilt, others would love to see something different come along.

As the ‘Larkin District’ nears a new chapter of development-allegedly consisting of residential units and new office buildings we could very well see not a re-build but a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired 2-3 story structure take over what is now a lightly-used surface lot. But to truly appreciate and understand Buffalo’s history-nothing could make more cutting and honest of a statement than to let the current surface lot remain as is-juxtaposed against the remaining brick column. If CityView is able to bring this part of town back to life like it wants to, this bleak surface lot could be a place where when one passes by-they are confronted with the political mishaps and the thoughtless approach to urban and economic development that forever ruined the fabric that makes Buffalo.

Although I think my surface lot wish will come true anyways as a result of economic conditions.

We can see the progress going on with the Frank Lloyd Wright boathouse on the waterfront. I don’t know about you but I find it a little eerie…surreal even..to see a Frank Lloyd Wright building…under construction…in 2007. The classic Wright design elements emerging on a day by day basis in a very different Buffalo from what Wright saw and worked with.

Its great that Buffalo has a solild FLW portfolio and its interesting that we have an emerging one (Blue Sky Masoleum 2002, West Side Row House, Gas Station) in the 21st century. It will make Buffalo a more interesting place to visit and will give Buffalonians a couple more things to be proud of but it raises some interesting issues (some I already addressed in a comment on BrO)…

The Blue Sky Masoleum was designed specifically for the Martin Family. Would Wright have designed it the same way if he knew it would not even hold one Martin family member but random people who have no affiliation with the family but good money to put down for a place for eternal rest?

The West Side Row Club row house was designed as a row house for the University of Wisconson. Wouldn’t Wright have designed a Buffalo row house differently?

Although modernists were known for building stuff that could be plopped on any land parcel regardless of history or location, I think Frank Lloyd Wright-being the perfectionist he was- would have taken the surroundings into serious consideration for how his final product looked.

Lets not forget how we mourn the loss of the Larkin Administration Building. It was almost as important as the Guaranty Building. Does that mean we should rebuild it?

Buffalo more and more is in love with its past and either terrified or doubtful about its’ future (see: Sabres new logo, Gates Circle, Elmwood Hotel, Inner Harbor project, etc) And if you don’t belive me, look no further than our obsession with Frank Lloyd Wright. These new Wright structures in a way admit that we can do no better than what we had and instead of evolving, we go back to the past to find new achievements. A rebuild of the Larkin building would make Buffalonians feel as if they went back in time and made up for their grave mistake and even erasing that mistake.

Buffalo is in the 21st century wether some like it or not, and although in one way I do think its pretty cool to see even more FLW buildings than we already have, I think it symbolizes our love and yearning for the past. By preserving what we have, we can show everyone from out of town that we once were great and have a unique built environment that is hard to find elsewhere in America. But by being afraid of new architecture we tell ourselves that the past is the best we’ll ever do.

I had a dream last night that I went down to the dining hall like I do every day for dinner but the guy swiping the cards at the entrance was…

Frank Lloyd Wright?!

He was about 70 years old in the dream and carried himself in his notoriously overconfident manner as he swiped the UB cards and then after his shift was done we both headed towards the elvator but the whole thing wierded me out so much that I took the stairs instead.

Coming back to Buffalo in 2005, one thing I was pretty excited about was the new infusion of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, decades after his death. The expansive renovation of the Martin House, the construction of the Blue Sky Mausoleum and West Side Rowing House, and plans for a FLW gas station sounded good to me…but not to Frank Lloyd Wright expert and UB Art History professor, Jack Quinan.
The author of the only book out there dedicated completely to the Larkin Administration Building as well as the Martin House, completely disagrees with the notion of new FLW builds, putting a thumbs down and sticking his tongue out when I asked him about it.
Noting that the mausoleum was designed for the Martin family and there are no Martins in it, that the Rowing House was designed for the U. of Wisconson, and the Gas Station won’t even have any gas, he sees it as going against the principles of what FLW would want in his buildings.
And for those of us nostalgic and hopeful of a rebuild of the Larkin Building, Quinan is not one to feel the same. During his lecture earlier this week he said

Whenever I talk about the Larkin Building, people come up to me and say, ‘Oh wouldn’t it be great if they rebuilt the Larkin Building?’….and I say ‘NO! It wouldn’t!’ Its gone, leave it that way.

The loss of the Larkin Building is one of the greatest tragedies in American Architectural history, and I see an authentic rebuild of it to be a way of making up for it.
And to me- Blue Sky, the Row House, and the Gas Station are great for Buffalo. Even if you’re a FLW purist you’re going to be curious and want to come to Buffalo to see how it looks. Leave these blueprints laying around any city in the country and they would do the same thing that Buffalo has…might as well let Buffalo add to its portfolio of buildings from America’s greatest architect.

Well, maybe thats not always the case (in fact it usually isn’t). My friend Alex wanted to do donuts with his ‘88 Volvo in a big parking lot so we decided on the one near the Larkin@Exchange building. While spinning around and leaving asphalt circles in the snow-coated lot, I noticed a huge brick wall in the back corner of the lot so i said

“Like OMGZ thats FLW’s 1st office building!”

because I’m basically a dork.

So we pulled over and walked around with our friend Abhishek. Not gonna lie, I tried to see if there were any loose bricks…but there were none…but still excited nonetheless (as you can see in the picture)

Afterwards we decided to pull up to Central Terminal.


As you can see, Abhishek knows that its polite to dress like the locals.

I, on the other hand, am just awkwardly giddy.

CT at night is always pretty creepy…which is fun but it was Wayyyyy to windy to walk around though (as you can tell in the picture below)

On the way back we yelled random party slogans as we drove down Chippewa and then took Main Street back up to UB and all agreed that UB was beyond stupid for not putting a campus downtown.

Buffalo might be down, depressing, and decrepid amongst other things but goshdarnit…Buffalo can be fuckin cool as hell while being all of those things…something Amherst can’t.

I got an email today from one of the 999786427642 people I work under at the Martin House that gives a really detailed construction update on the Martin House…

“The following information is provided so that you can be well informed, as well as give our guests the most current information about the
Martin House restoration project. The reconstruction of the pergola, conservatory and carriage house is nearing completion.
Installation of the HVAC system for these buildings is the major focus at this time, along with completing the installation of all doors,
windows and remaining millwork. The new electrical system, which will be an underground service, is also near to being activated.
The second floor of the carriage house still has a significant amount of “build out” work which will be completed in December.
The current schedule calls for substantial completion of all buildings by December 28th. The MHRC will take possession of the buildings
as soon as a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the city, which should be at that time. Installation of the museum shop will take
place during the final weeks of December and early January.

Looking ahead to our next phase of work, the board of directors has authorized the advertisement for bids on Phase IV of the project.
At the heart of this phase is the exterior restoration of the masonry of the Martin House itself … from repair of step-cracking in the piers, to replacement of missing or broken bricks, to reversal of non-historic conditions, to re-pointing mortar for the first time in 100 years.
The plans also include restoration of window framework, as well as the installation of an ADA approved entry system at the bursar’s
door, structural restoration of the main fireplace and the completion of the restoration of the verandah. The documents are scheduled
to go out to bid in December, and contracts should be awarded in January, with actual construction work lasting approximately twelve months.
As always, it is our intention to keep the site open during the restoration process. This next phase of work is vitally important and is the
necessary precursor to the installation of updated mechanical systems and interior restoration of the plaster and woodwork inside the
Martin House. The Visitor Center design project is still progressing, but no actual date to begin construction has been determined
at this time.”

It’s going to be amazing, especially when they finally get crackin on the construction of the visitors center designed by Toshiko Mori. I saw the designs of it and i swear to you the interior and all its’ features will blow you away. Right now the museum shop is in the Barton House which is in the back. It’s old and creaky and small. It gets super jammed right before tours begin and gets a little chaotic. Regardless, come in and buy a book and take a tour. You’ll appreciate the fully restored complex even more when you’ve seen it before its glory.

World renown architect and dean of the school of architecture at Harvard, Toshiko Mori, gave a lecture on UB’s South Campus yesterday. The lecture moslty consisted of her previous works and principles regarding design.

Mori showed a lot of slides from her winning design of the Darwin Martin House Visitor’s Center. And let me tell you…it’s something else. Too many features to bring up but one that particularly stands out is there will be a hologram of the Larkin Administration Building coming from seemingly out of nowhere. There seems to be some good attention in the visitors center given to the Administration Building.

It’s great that Buffalo can add Toshiko Mori to the list of world famous architects that have left their imprint on our city. Kind of just adds to the amount of exciting, GOOD stuff that’s taking place to bring our city back.

Here’s an interesting piece on Mori and Wright from 2003

A couple weeks ago I took a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s “Darwin D. Martin Complex” for my Architecture class. Here are a few pics…

This historic complex is nearing a finish to renovation and is located on the Jewett Parkway. Four blocks north of Amherst Station on Main St. Tours are $8 and must be reserved in advance.