Wingspread
N 42° 46.831 W 087° 46.246
16T E 436952 N 4736730
The pinwheel shaped residence for the Johnson Wax Executive and his family in the rolling Wisconsin countryside and current conference center of the Johnson Foundation...
Waymark Code: WMF5J
Location: Wisconsin, United States
Date Posted: 06/18/2006
Views: 123
Constructed following an off-hand remark made by Herbert Johnson during the construction of the nearby Johnson Wax Administration building, "I think I'll just put a cot in my office and live there." To which Wright replied, "Oh no you won't. I'll build you a house."
Wright described his theory of the zoned house, consisting of a large central room that would contain a large open room or public zone comprised of the living room, dining room and kitchen and the rest of the house or private zones for various members of the household.
Johnson liked the idea and sketched a conceptual floorplan for the new house and presented it to Wright. Wright usually did not respond warmly to sketches drawn by clients, but in this case Wright accepted Johnson's zoning assignments only modifying them by moving the placement of the wings to the corner rather than the center of each wall of the central room. This simple modification transformed the static cruciform plan into a dyanmic pinwheel shape, full of implied motion and energy. Wright considered Wingspread his last prairie-style home.
The house is open for free tours Tu-Th when there is not a conference in progress by appoinment only. Almost every Wright building has a leaky roof story and the one you will learn of here is one of the best ever. Wonderful free color booklets on Wingspread and the Johnson Foundation are available to visitors.
Year Completed: 1939
Commissioned By: Herbert F. Johnson, Jr.
Nearest City or Town: Racine
Public/Private: Public
Tours Available?: yes
Website: [Web Link]
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Visit Instructions:
There are no specific visit requirements, however telling about your visit is strongly encouraged. Additional photos of the building or house to add to the gallery are also nice, but not required. Pictures with a GPS or you in them is highly discouraged.