Falling Waters by Frank Lloyd Wright

My family took a trip to Western Pennsylvania to visit Falling Waters. It is an amazing structure made of just 3 building materials - steel, glass, and concrete. It is literally built over the top of Bear Brook stream right where the stream goes over a waterfall and it is sitting on solid rock. The structure is 3 stories high and has adjacent servant quarters. this first picture looking at the main two floors from the upstream side.

This house has very little storage space and small bedrooms. The original owners wanted a place to get away to the solitude and beauty of the woods with total emersion in the environment. Almost the entire first floor is an open area with glass on 3 sides. There are balconies hanging out into space everywhere. Steps from the main living area lead directly down to the stream for bathing.

Behind this rather pleasant family portrait is a view of the house where it sits over the waterfall. If you're into architecture or construction methods...this is must see.

Let's Build a House #2, Hand-Hewed Timbers

This "chalet" is different because it was framed using 200 year old, oak, hand-hewed timbers. We found an old barn and the property owner wanted the barn off her property. For two months, we disassembled the barn to save any materials that could be reused.

80 timbers were salvaged, the longest were just over 40 feet. Our biggest disappointment was losing the siding on the barn. It was beautifully aged and colored, but only about 1/8 inch thick after 200 years in the elements. We could not find a way to get the siding off without damaging it. If anyone has had success getting very old, thin siding off, I'd love to know how it is done.

The house was framed with the timbers and 2x4 construction was used to fill in. The beams are exposed on the inside of the chalet and all of the original mortice and tenon construction and hand-hewed characteristics show through. The asthetics from blending 18th century construction and a modern layout is quite remarkable.

Let's Build a House #1, Deciding to do it...

Alan, his sister Julie and I built a house - hands on. We aren't carpenters, electicians, or plumbers. We just couldn't afford to buy a ski chalet in NH, so naturally, we had to build one. Fresh out of college and a little naive, we figured we'd be skiing from our new place in 6 months.

It actually took 4 years of weekends, a small loan, and a lot of friends who were willing to exchange time for...ahhh...our good company and a promise they could use the house too. Beer may have been involved.

We finished a 2200 sq ft house, it is still standing quite nicely thank you, and it was built almost entirely with our own hands and our friends. The whole story is a hoot. What a terrific learning experience and sense of accomplishment. I can and will share some great stories about what to do and what not to do.