[Florence] Rosenbaum House - Frank Lloyd Wright

[Sassi]

Wright-Rosenbaum House, Florence, Alabama, USA
601 Riverview Drive
Florence, AL 35630
(256) 740-8899

Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright

site link and info below as copied from site link.....

http://www.florenceal.org/Community_Arts/Art_Museums/Art_Galleries_Museums/Frank_Lloyd_Wright/index.html

The Rosenbaum House is the only Wright-designed structure in Alabama. It was built in 1939-1940 for Stanley and Mildred Rosenbaum who were the sole owners and occupants of the house until 1999 when the house was purchased by the City of Florence.

The house is constructed of cypress, glass and brick and has all the hallmarks of Wright's Usonian style...flat multi-level roofs, cantilevered eaves and carports, flowing space, use of natural materials and expanses of glass. Wright designed an addition to the house in 1948, adding two wings.

The house has been meticulously restored. The City of Florence received the 2004 Wright Spirit Award in the Public Domain from the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy for the preservation of this important architectural gem. The house holds its original Wright-designed furniture and is open as a city museum.

Open Tuesday - Saturday, 10 am - 4 pm.
Admission Charged

date visited August 25, 2006
my First Ever Visit to a Frank Lloyd Wright building
Sassi

[Sassi]

more site links with additional info:

http://www.800alabama.com/things-to-do/alabama-attractions/details.cfm?id=759

http://www.flo-tour.org/flwhouse.html

http://www.wrightinalabama.com/rosenbaum.html

http://www.pbs.org/flw/buildings/usonia/usonia_exterior.html

my own personal comments in private e-mail sent out to a chosen few friends after our visit........Sassi

friday we were up and at 'em and although not difficult, it was a challenge, to find the Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) - Rosenbaum house. the only FLW house in AL. Rosenbaums were the only owners of the house. built in 1939, with a major FLW addition built On to it in 1948. they had four sons. Mr. Rosenbaum died in the '60s and Mrs. Rosenbaum remained in the home. at one point in time, hubby and i traveled down there to get a tour of house, then given by Mrs. Rosenbaum herself. we telephoned to schedule a tour and was told by someone that "Mrs. Rosenbaum isn't feeling good today.............could we come again, on another day?" well time goes by, doesn't it?

Mrs. Rosenbaum had to go to a nursing facility. she wanted to sell the house but there weren't any takers......not for her $225,000 (approx.) asking price. so she "gave" the house to the City of Florence and SOLD the city it's contents and furnishings for $75,000. well low and behold, the City spent $600,000+ to renovate-repair it. house is brick and cypress in and out. seems the termites liked to Eat the Pine wall studs and got IN the Structure eating it away, from the inside out. also a problem was (we know this about FLW) his design for a Flat Roof, complete with skylights.........well needless to say, lots and lots of water damage too. oh dear, but hubby and i were fortunate with our "timing", this time, to see the house in all of it's (now a museum) glory! thanks Florence, AL for spending all those bucks........and where did the bucks come from? they raised the sales tax in 1% to Help Pay for it ALL!

[Sassi]

from Sassi.......

[Sassi]

all pictures taken by yours truly, Sassi - a Non Pro

[Sassi]

from Sassi......

[Sassi]

i was delighted to learn that after the "official" short tour, we could spend as much time there as we wanted to. and that taking photos of the home's interiors Was Permitted.......Yippee! and "rules are rules"........."feel free to Look, but don't sit on furniture or touch-open drawers or cabinets." no problem! Sassi

[Sassi]

spacious living area opens up, after one walks down entry hall (picture in reply post above). Sassi

[Sassi]

Mr. Rosenbaum's cozy, but efficient "office"......at "end" of living area - long hallway. Sassi

[Sassi]

dining area open to living room. lots of built-ins throughout the house, of course. wish I had them in my Own home! Sassi

[Sassi]

master bedroom, showing the relationship of low profile bed to tall walls-clerestories. Sassi

[Sassi]

i spent a long and full and totally focused two days of internet research After Our Visit. it's actually how i "found" PPB2. i Joined Here in the hopes that i could obtain more info And share some pictures with everyone.

it's not that i didn't know about Mr. Wright, or his different Architectural Styles, like Usonian, or that i hadn't known about the Rosenbaum House. i set out on a week-end "mission quest" to learn more......Particularly about The Family who lived there, and I DID.

akin to other places i've had the priviledge of visiting, i have always imagined The People who have occupied these spaces. picturing in my mind, Mr. Rosenbaum smoking his pipe in his cozy office. the sounds of their sons playing in their room(s). Mrs. Rosenbaum contending with managing a household and family, even though she had hired help. sitting outdoors on the vast patio, relaxing with a cocktail and enjoying (at THAT Time) the scenic view of the river. needless to say, i will never forget my visit to this house. and i guess i have also fullfilled another "mission", Here at PPB2, as well....to get some pictures posted. i have read how you don't "prefer" collage pictures, but i wanted to close with this one.

thanks in advance, to anyone who takes the time to spend at this thread. Sassi

[wizum]

thanks very much for this post Sassi... this house is within a few hours drive of Atlanta and I will be planning a trip there soon... the info was helpfull... do you know if they would be opposed to someone using a tri-pod to take pictures of the interior? If at all possible could you give some general directions to how you get to the city of Florence from the closest major city and/or highway? If the links you provided cover this don't worry about it, as I haven't had a chance to view them yet...

[Sassi]

sorry about that "wizum",
from Atlanta to Florence........

http://www.google.com/maphp?hl=en&tab=wl&q=forence%20alabama

Sassi

[Sassi]

my apologies again........i see that that link didn't work one bit. Sassi

[Sassi]

as taken from Mapquest.........driving instructions from Atlanta, GA to Florence, AL (i take no credit for accuracy) Sassi

[wizum]

sorry about that "wizum",
from Atlanta to Florence........

http://www.google.com/maphp?hl=en&tab=wl&q=forence%20alabama

Sassi

LOL... no worries Sassi... I did the same thing via google... The links you provided I think covered it but it is nice to see it graphically here on the forums too... thanks for doing that... it looks like from Atlanta its about a 4 hour drive... from Birmingham about an hour and a half to 2 hours (depending on how slow one might drive)... not a direct route to get there but it looks like it is well worth it...

This house, being a usonian design is very similar to one I saw up in Ohio in the town of Oberlin just outside of Cleveland, Oh. similar roof design and layout and how it engages with the site.