> - - The original note follows - -
>
>From: rbmurray@xxxxxxxxxx (Robert B. Murray)
>Subject: Re: Wright's concrete blocks
>Date: Wed, 20 Jul 1994 02:53:31 GMT
>
>Jeff Edman (edman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) wrote:
>: I recently saw a reference to FLLW designed house (I believe it was in
>: "The Wright Style") that said that the house had built by the owner who
>: cast his own concrete blocks and assembled them. I can't remember
>: exactly, but the book implied that this owner-builder technique was
>: encouraged by Wright.
>
>: Does anyone know if his technique of casting concrete blocks is described
>: somewhere? Just curious how it was done and how the design was integrated.
>
>
>: Thanks,
>
>: Jeff Edman
>
>I studied this system in the late 60's and looked at four houses in the
>L.A. area at that time. Also one in Seattle that was derivative, but
>using what appeared to be conventional unit masonry. I'll
>try to dig up my references. If I can find them, I'll post them...
>
>The "blocks" were supposed to be fabricated as _rammed_ concrete panels
>about 2 inches thick, dry enough to turn out of the mold almost
>immediately (basically adobe brick making technology). Each edge of a
>panel had a groove for rebar and grout, the bottom of the mold was a
>reverse of the desired face pattern. The molds were fairly complex, as
>you can imagine, and the process of ramming the panels was slow, hard
>work.
>
>Exterior walls and some partitions were made of two layers of panels
>spaced about 6 inches apart. For the life of me I can't say how the layers
>were tied together. The air space was supposed to provide insulation.
>
>Wright promoted the idea as a low-tech, do-it-yourself approach, but the
>process was so slow and arduous that the idea died of natural causes. I
>_believe_ all of the completed houses were done professionally.
>
>The effect is very nice. Evocative of mayan tombs (which I believe was
>part of Wright's idea), especially with the characteristic Wright
>decorative motifs and scale.
Isn't this the Usonian Block System?
.
>
>From: rbmurray@xxxxxxxxxx (Robert B. Murray)
>Subject: Re: Wright's concrete blocks
>Date: Wed, 20 Jul 1994 02:53:31 GMT
>
>Jeff Edman (edman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) wrote:
>: I recently saw a reference to FLLW designed house (I believe it was in
>: "The Wright Style") that said that the house had built by the owner who
>: cast his own concrete blocks and assembled them. I can't remember
>: exactly, but the book implied that this owner-builder technique was
>: encouraged by Wright.
>
>: Does anyone know if his technique of casting concrete blocks is described
>: somewhere? Just curious how it was done and how the design was integrated.
>
>
>: Thanks,
>
>: Jeff Edman
>
>I studied this system in the late 60's and looked at four houses in the
>L.A. area at that time. Also one in Seattle that was derivative, but
>using what appeared to be conventional unit masonry. I'll
>try to dig up my references. If I can find them, I'll post them...
>
>The "blocks" were supposed to be fabricated as _rammed_ concrete panels
>about 2 inches thick, dry enough to turn out of the mold almost
>immediately (basically adobe brick making technology). Each edge of a
>panel had a groove for rebar and grout, the bottom of the mold was a
>reverse of the desired face pattern. The molds were fairly complex, as
>you can imagine, and the process of ramming the panels was slow, hard
>work.
>
>Exterior walls and some partitions were made of two layers of panels
>spaced about 6 inches apart. For the life of me I can't say how the layers
>were tied together. The air space was supposed to provide insulation.
>
>Wright promoted the idea as a low-tech, do-it-yourself approach, but the
>process was so slow and arduous that the idea died of natural causes. I
>_believe_ all of the completed houses were done professionally.
>
>The effect is very nice. Evocative of mayan tombs (which I believe was
>part of Wright's idea), especially with the characteristic Wright
>decorative motifs and scale.
Isn't this the Usonian Block System?
.