One of the world’s most famous houses is the weekend retreat called Fallingwater. Begun in 1936 and completed the following year, Wright designed the house for Pittsburgh department store owner Edgar J. Kaufmann, whose son, Edgar Jr., was a Taliesin fellow.

Wright never liked to draw until he knew what he was going to draw. This is the way it came out of his noodle. And this is the way he planned. —Edgar Tafel, Former FLW apprentice

Wright named his building Fallingwater. It would eventually become the most famous modern house in the world. And he had drawn it all it in less than three hours.

August 21, 1936

Robert K. Mosher: Kaufmann’s Bear Run Camp: Pittsburgh: Pennsylvania

Dear Bob:

In discussing matters with our client it is well to have in mind the motif of the building—that is to say the reason why it is as it is.

We got down into that glen to associate directly with the stream and planned the house for that association. Hence the steps from living room to stream, I intended to deepen the stream for a swimming pool under the house at the foot of these steps. With artificial collateral pools will look foolish.

Again the main floor is a projecting balcony over the stream. To put stairs from the balcony to the ground robs the balcony of any character or romance as such.

The stone work was intended to blend with that of the glen. But the walls built before we got there do not. The later work on the big chimney pier does so. Something must be done to the corner of the bridge and collateral piers to change the scale. I can knock off stickouts to help get the effect when I come down but we will have to set in a chunk or two here and there.

In view of our building as in the glen to associate with and play with the natural stream, it might be all right to dam the stream itself in some natural way in keeping with the rocks that are its boundary. Say just above the falls to make a ripple or two before the deep fall and so make a ripple or two before the deep fall and so make the stream itself deep enough for a plunge under the house. If the water should rise high enough to cover the stone walls under the bolsters it would not offend me.

But I shouldn’t like to see this ripple over two feet above the rocks that now precipitate the fall, Less would be better.

It seems to me there is already three or four feet of depth where the steps come down as the ledge now slopes in that direction. But if not some blasting could be done by someone who knows how, in order to make a deep enough pool, I should think five feet ample for depth of water or perhaps four.

As for the stone bath tub in the entry, I suggest it be outside nearby where flowers can be thrown in it to keep them fresh and our clients can dip their feet without wetting the entry floor. (see suggestion)

Frank Lloyd Wright, Architect

Taliesin: Spring Green: Wisconsin:August 21st, 1936