Bibliograph

The Guggenheim, Frank Lloyd Wright's iconoclastic masterpiece, Francesco Dal Co ; translated by Sarah Melker

Type

Label

The Guggenheim, Frank Lloyd Wright's iconoclastic masterpiece, Francesco Dal Co ; translated by Sarah Melker

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references (pages [161]-172)

Illustrations

illustrations

Index

no index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

The Guggenheim

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

969981835

Responsibility statement

Francesco Dal Co ; translated by Sarah Melker

Series statement

Great Architects/Great Buildings

Sub title

Frank Lloyd Wright's iconoclastic masterpiece

Summary

"The captivating tale of the plans and personalities behind one of New York City's most radical and recognizable buildings. Considered the crowning achievement of Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in Manhattan is often called iconic. But it is in fact iconoclastic, standing in stark contrast to the surrounding metropolis and setting a new standard for the postwar art museum. Commissioned to design the building in 1943 by the museum's founding curator, Baroness Hilla von Rebay, Wright established residence in the Plaza Hotel in order to oversee the project. Over the next 17 years, Wright continuously clashed with his clients over the cost and the design, a conflict that extended to the city of New York and its cultural establishment. Against all odds, Wright held fast to his radical design concept of an inverted ziggurat and spiraling ramp, built with a continuous beam-a shape recalling the form of an hourglass. Construction was only completed in 1959, six months after Wright's death. The building's initial critical response ultimately gave way to near-universal admiration, as it came to be seen as an architectural masterpiece. This essential text, offering a behind-the-scenes story of the Guggenheim along with a careful reading of its architecture, is beautifully illustrated with more than 150 images, including plans, drawings, and rare photographs of the building under construction." --Cover

Table Of Contents

The Guggenheim -- Solomon Guggenheim, Hilla Rebay, their art collection, and MoMA -- The tyranny of the skyscraper -- Wright's monument -- Designing the Guggenheim -- The angel of the architects -- A building to withstand the atomic bomb -- Wright's iconoclasm -- Portfolio of photographs, drawings, and references

Classification

Contributor