2023-12-19 06:29:13
Art, design, engineering, and a strong sense of place all come together for the magic of architecture to take shape. Perhaps the most famous American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright made his mark on Pennsylvania with his masterpiece Fallingwater, a National Historic Landmark and UNESCO World Heritage site in Mill Run. Tour the home and grounds to see how this 1935 structure creates a seamless experience between the interiors and the outside beauty of its natural surroundings. Architect Louis Kahn also unveiled a modern architectural work of his own, the 1967 Fisher House in Hatboro. This privately owned home features two angled cubic volumes, a stone foundation, cypress cladding, and oversized rectangular windows—perfect for taking in forest views. With striking rectangular, curvilinear, and diagonal elements, the privately owned Vanna Venturi House in Philadelphia’s Chestnut Hill neighborhood is a prime example of the postmodern architecture movement. Architect Robert Venturi designed this eye-catching home for his mother, and it was completed in 1964. The Emerald Art Glass House in Pittsburgh is another astonishing house—only this one seems to float. The cantilevered home belonged to owners of a glass company, and the industrial design uses concrete, recycled materials, and a glass façade. For more gorgeous glass, see the black steel and tinted gray glass façade of the Ludwig Mies van der Rohe-designed Richard King Mellon Hall of Sciences in Pittsburgh. Take a 30-minute guided tour of the Beaux Arts style Pennsylvania State Capitol building in Harrisburg, designed by Joseph Miller Huston. Marvel at stunning features including the grand staircase, domed ceiling, and stained-glass windows. On the outside, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia looks encased in an accordion-like barrel of steel and glass, which allows a flood of light for the rooftop garden atop Perelman Theater—an intimate music space with a rotating stage. The main venue is Verizon Hall, wrapped in rich curves of mahogany in the shape of a cello—all the works of architect Rafael Viñoly. Or stroll through the Bryn Athyn Historic District to see a collection of regal stone buildings reflecting the aesthetic of the Arts and Crafts movement.
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