Collection by Miyoko Ohtake

New Cottages at Fallingwater

This weekend, Design Competition: New Cottages at Fallingwater exhibition closes at the Heinz Architectural Center at Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh. Earlier this year, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, which owns Frank Lloyd Wright's famous Fallingwater home and the surrounding 5,000-acre Bear Run Nature Reserve, held the first competition for new construction on the site. The WPC invited six firms to design 700-square-foot cottages for students and artists in residence at Fallingwater. Each cottage was required to be "architecturally interesting," be able to achieve a LEED-platinum rating from the USGBC, and include sleeping, eating, cooking, and bathing areas as well as an open space with a fireplace. The exhibit, which displays models and renderings of the six proposals, opened at the Carnegie Museum of art in June. If you can't make it to the show before it closes Sunday, watch our slideshow here.

Here, a rendering of Saucier + Perrotte Architects' proposal.
Here, a rendering of Saucier + Perrotte Architects' proposal.
A jury judged each entry and selected the design from Patkau Architects, a firm based in Vancouver, British Columbia, as the winner.
A jury judged each entry and selected the design from Patkau Architects, a firm based in Vancouver, British Columbia, as the winner.
The jurors commented that the design by Patkau Architects "is reminiscent of Ohio mound builders—-discreet, quiet, with a lightness of touch. It is sustainably and environmentally forward thinking but also looks back to indigenous mounds and passive solar techniques."
The jurors commented that the design by Patkau Architects "is reminiscent of Ohio mound builders—-discreet, quiet, with a lightness of touch. It is sustainably and environmentally forward thinking but also looks back to indigenous mounds and passive solar techniques."
Second-place was awarded to the proposal by Wendell Burnette Architects.
Second-place was awarded to the proposal by Wendell Burnette Architects.
The judges applauded Wendell Burnette Architect's design for its relationship to the landscape, noting "each cottage is quiet, modest but important in its conversation with nature. The architecture is not deferential, but respectful."
The judges applauded Wendell Burnette Architect's design for its relationship to the landscape, noting "each cottage is quiet, modest but important in its conversation with nature. The architecture is not deferential, but respectful."
In third place was the design by Olson Kundig Architects, whose similar Rolling Huts project swept the web not too long ago.
In third place was the design by Olson Kundig Architects, whose similar Rolling Huts project swept the web not too long ago.
The jurors noted that the Olson Kundig Architects proposal "gives deferential respect to the architecture of Fallingwater while still celebrating the landscape of Fallingwater, its forests and its fields."
The jurors noted that the Olson Kundig Architects proposal "gives deferential respect to the architecture of Fallingwater while still celebrating the landscape of Fallingwater, its forests and its fields."
Other entries included this design by Marlon Blackwell Architect, based in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Other entries included this design by Marlon Blackwell Architect, based in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Here, a rendering of Marlon Blackwell Architect's proposal.
Here, a rendering of Marlon Blackwell Architect's proposal.
Rounding up the group was the design by MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Rounding up the group was the design by MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Here, a rendering of MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects' design.
Here, a rendering of MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects' design.