Joshua Melson House by Walter Burley Griffin
Wow! Ummmm, so I got a surprise tour and photo shoot at the Melson house by Walter Burley Griffin, 1912.
Interior photos will come later.
NOTE: These are iPhone shots.
The site of the Joshua Melson House is the only place in America where both Wright and Griffin designed a house for the same client.
Wright's design for Melson later became the Isabel Roberts House, whereas Griffin's design became part of his greatest American achievement - Rock Crest Rock Glen.
The design of the Melson House was Griffin's attempt to completely integrate a house with its surroundings. Griffin created this masterpiece along Willow Creek in Mason City, Iowa, two decades before Wright's design for Fallingwater.
The house rises three stories out of the creek wall and is capped with concrete keystones. The patterns in the keystones at one time continued along the wooden mullions of the window design, giving the appearance of sun rays. But, unfortunately, most of the patterned windows were replaced with clear glass.
The house has a two-car, drive-through garage. Joshua Melson had the first car in the county so he needed this modern convenience. He was also an amateur pilot and architect.
The asymmetrical entryway is on the first floor of the house with the front and back doors directly opposite each other. The living room and dining room wrap around a central fireplace. They are connected by a balcony overlooking the creek. The lower level not only has a recreation room but it opens onto a side tea terrace. The bedroom on the top floor also opens onto a balcony. (Info from pbs).
The exterior had a Sowden house (Lloyd Wright) feel to it and the interior does not necessarily feel like the exterior. Great design.
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