Wisconsin native Frank Lloyd Wright is one of the most famous American architects of the 20th century. Architects heavily rely upon their skills in engineering, but Wright also relied upon science, using nature as his inspiration, not only for the aesthetics of his design, but also for problems of structure. For example, Wright built Fallingwater in Pennsylvania to mimic the shape of the waterfall it spans, using rock that matches the natural boulders surrounding it and the shapes of the water dropping from the layered falls. Fallingwater is a prime example of the way Wright blended the buildings he designed into the natural world around them. Wright credited the beautiful Wisconsin countryside for sparking his lifelong love of nature.
Wright’s Guggenheim Museum in New York City is set in a very urban environment. In this building, Wright’s skills in simple machines and engineering become clear. He designed the huge public building with galleries that spiral up several stories, using a screw to allow visitors to take an easy walk as they view the art on display.
Encourage your students to follow Frank Lloyd Wright’s example by studying nature and knowing Earth’s materials. Then encourage them to apply what they learn in science to solving problems in their investigations. They’ll be meeting Wisconsin’s state science standards in science and applications, as well as working in the manner of a true master of architecture.