Frank Lloyd Wright's Mayan Revival Houses in Los Angeles: Creating Atmosphere and Perception of Space

The article chronicles the arrival of Frank Lloyd Wright in California in 1915, after personal tragedy at his Wisconsin home, Taliesin. His arrival coincided with the Panama California Exposition, which celebrated the Panama Canal's opening and featured architectural styles reminiscent of Spanish colonial revival alongside Mesoamerican constructions. The article reflects on Wright's groundbreaking use of textile block construction, a modular method that transformed conventional building practices by embedding ornamentation within the structure itself, thus softening industrial materials into expressive, rhythmic designs.

Wright's use of textile block construction was revolutionary, integrating ornamentation with structure, and creating a sense of rhythm through modular, patterned precast blocks.

His arrival in California coincided with the Panama California Exposition, where the showcased Spanish colonial revival style buildings complemented the exhibition of Mesoamerican architectural models.

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