In the early 1900s, architect Frank Lloyd Wright coined the term “organic architecture.” This environmentally friendly form of architecture began to gain more popularity in the 1960s and ’70s. This idea aimed to build houses around nature instead of tearing down trees and other plants to construct a house.
Pennsylvania is the state with the most houses using organic architecture. This is mainly because Frank Lloyd Wright’s home, Falling Water, located in Mill Run, inspired many other organic architecture projects in the state. Falling Water was one of the roots that inspired architects with this new form, leading to inspiration among various architects throughout the United States. This resulted in some of these trends spreading to Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
This house, which uses an array of shapes to weave around trees that have housed this area for years, is located right off of Prairie Green Golf Course near hole 12. Built in 1979, this home has many unique features, including a secret room that looks out upon all the trees that isolate it, which is only accessible by ladder. Another feature is a dome on the first level of this house that looks out to the swimming pool on the side yard. Last but not least, this house has two driveways on either side of the house, one circular and the other being an average driveway. In addition to the layout of this house, the concept of organic architecture being installed with its blueprints truly makes it unique because it helps encapsulate the yard and makes it feel private and far from society. Compared to the average house in Sioux Falls, this house stands out due to the dense vegetation surrounding it, the jutting exterior accent walls and the slanted roofs that allow the tree tops to continue growing.
Frank Lloyd Wright stated when developing this concept that “Organic designs do not try to infringe on nature but instead coexist alongside it.”
Organic architecture not only creates unique and special homes but also helps the world by reducing the number of trees cut down every year and for the most part, it leaves squirrel and bird nests untouched. If this process was implemented in the construction of future homes, our living spaces would blend in more with the natural environment, promoting sustainability and aesthetic beauty. Unique houses that follow the principles of organic architecture not only enhance our connection with nature but also inspire creativity and innovation in architectural design. Most importantly, this approach can reduce environmental impact, improve mental well-being and foster a deeper appreciation for the natural world, ultimately improving our daily lives and the habitats of animals and plants.
