Gordon House (Oregon)

[
Fretwork of Gordon House]

Gordon House is a residential house designed by influential architect Frank Lloyd Wright as part of his Usonian vision for America.It is the second and last of the series designed for working-class U.S. consumers, which—in 1939—was considered $5,000–6,000 per year. cite web
url = http://www.bartking.net/bartking/pdxarc/pdxarcbonus.html
title = An Architectural Guidebook to Portland—Bonus Buildings!
author = Bart King
accessdate = 2007-12-21 ] It is based on a design for a modern home commissioned by Life Magazine in 1938 at a time when Wright had little work.

The house was designed in 1957 for Evelyn and Conrad Gordon, cite web
url = http://www.thegordonhouse.org/
title = The Gorden House by Frank Lloyd Wright
accessdate = 2007-12-21 ] and finished in 1963 (four years after Frank Lloyd Wright's death) originally located adjacent to the Willamette River near Wilsonville, Oregon, United States. When its 2001 owners intended to destroy it, the Frank Lloyd Wright Conservancy obtained a three-month reprieve to dismantle cite web
url = http://www.northshorepro.com/2006gallery.php?clip_id=8
title = Moving Usonia: The only Frank Lloyd Wright house in Oregon has to be destroyed in order to be saved
format = QuickTime (.mov) 240x151px
author = North Shore Productions, Portland, Oregon
publisher = KOPB-TV
work = Oregon Art Beat
pages = Episode 323
date = March 212002
accessdate = 2008-02-08 ] and move it to the Oregon Garden, about 21 miles (34 km) southeast of its original location. Dismantling began March 92001. The upper floor, containing two bedrooms and one bath, was moved as a single unit. Overall neglect required refurbishing of the structure's siding and roofing which was arranged by grants from the Architectural Foundation of Oregon and the Oregon Cultural Trust. A new foundation replicating the original was constructed.The house opened one year later as the only publicly accessible Frank Lloyd Wright home in the Pacific Northwest.

The house has 2,133 ft² (203 m²) of floor space with twelve-foot (366 cm) floor-to-ceiling windows and Wright's classic horizontal designs and features which connect the interior and exterior. It is constructed of cedar and cinder block and continues Wright's tradition of custom patterned wood cutout window lattice known as fretwork.

Gordon House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 222004. cite web
url = http://www.thegordonhouse.org/files/news/AWelcome.doc
title = Welcome to the Fretwork Network E-Newsletter!
date = June 72006
author = Elsa Coleman, Molly Murphy
accessdate = 2007-12-21 ] It is cared for by the Gordon House Conservancy and available for small catered gatherings. When not reserved, the house is available for public tours.

Gallery

See also

* List of Registered Historic Places in Marion County, Oregon

References