FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT’S SPEECHES TO THE PEOPLE OF MARIN, 1957 & 1958
 Frank Lloyd Wright presenting the Civic Center plans at San Rafael High School, March 25, 1958. (Image from cover of This Week in Marvelous Marin, December 26, 1958). |
On July 31, 1957, Frank Lloyd Wright spoke at a public meeting at San Rafael High School to impart his philosophy of architecture and particularly, organic architecture. Following that meeting, he signed the contract that made him the official architect for the Marin County Civic Center and fairgrounds complex. The next day, he was driven to the Scettrini Ranch, site of the new Civic Center, and announced that he had come up with his design.
A year later, on March 25, 1958, Wright returned to San Rafael High School with a complete set of drawings for the entire site, including the Administration Building, Hall of Justice, Veterans' Memorial Auditorium, and numerous buildings and structures for the fairgrounds. It was an informal session with opportunities for community members to ask Frank Lloyd Wright questions. The following excerpts are from these two speeches. The first three are from Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1957 address and the last two from his 1958 delivery. CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW TO ASK FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT A QUESTION  1. Could you discuss the relationship between architecture and culture? 2. What is organic architecture? 3. How would you characterize your project for the Marin County Civic Center? 4. Could you explain how your design for the Civic Center relates to the building site? 5. What kind of building materials will be used for the Civic Center and will it endure? |
COPYRIGHT 2003, Anne T. Kent California Room, Marin County Free Library
