20th
Meyer May + Frank Lloyd Wright + Historic Preservation
Last week, I was lucky enough to be able to visit the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Meyer May House in Grand Rapids, MI. Wright was indeed a man ahead of his own time, and thus, he created a futuristic home for the May family in 1908. Surrounded by old Victorian houses, the Meyer May house is a stunning example of Wright’s work made possible only by accurate and detailed historic preservation by the Steelcase company and their associates.
I definitely feel that the most important design principle Wright used and lived by was continuation. Every element in the house is continued from somewhere else, and then repeated in a way that ties everything together. He used the repetition of shapes and patterns coupled with an innate sense of layout and space.
Within the Meyer May House, Wright strived to achieve the unity and serenity found in nature by bringing outdoor elements inside. Over one hundred windows in the house let in flawless natural light, and built-in outdoor planters on the second floor allow the occupants to enjoy nature. Wright achieved creating an entire environment inside the house by developing every element to work together perfectly.
This is a great lesson in graphic design as well. Each element must simultaneously work together to achieve a well-communicated message to the viewer.
