Fallingwater is 5,300 square feet,
and half of that footprint comprises
terraces offering views of the natural
surroundings. As in many of Wright’s
houses, the focal point is the hearth,
made from massive stones taken from
the property. Sprinkled throughout are
the Kaufmanns’ collection of Audubon
prints, Picassos, Tiffany lamps and
furnishings designed by Wright.
fallingwater.org
Kentuck Knob is Fallingwater’s quiet
sister. Built in 1956 for Bernardine and I.N.
Hagan, this is one of Wright’s Usonian
houses: everything on one level, compact
and with no wasted space.
Wright placed the house 2,050 feet
above sea level and blended it seamlessly
into the side of a mountain, with the
porch pointing outward like the bow of
a ship. The interior and exterior wood is
tidewater red cypress, and the heating
system was revolutionary for 1956: 2,200
feet of copper piping running beneath
the floors. The living room has built-in
sofas, club chairs and a Prairie-style
recliner designed by Wright.
You can walk the woodland trails
to the sculpture garden featuring 43
works by artists such as Harry Bertoia,
Sir Anthony Caro, Claes Oldenburg and
Richard Serra, among others, as well as a
piece of the Berlin Wall. kentucknob.com
—Frances J. Folsom
Clockwise from bottom:
The Red Army (1991) by
Ray Smith; Kentucky Knob,
the crescent-shaped house
curls around a west-facing
courtyard, blending into the
contours of the land; a view of
the 10-inch thick stone-faced
concrete ramparts; Apple Core
(1990) by Claes Oldenburg at
Kentuck Knob.
