APtravelnews-October-28th,-Florence, AL.–As part of our tour of Florence, AL. we were introduced to a few of the Museums of the city of Florence. The first location we visited was The Wright-Rosenbaum House Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Stanley and Mildred Rosenbaum commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to design the only Wright house in Alabama. The home is one of the earliest Usonian designs, the house has been called one of the purest examples of Wrights unique style. What we saw was a house that was built where design, form and function melded beautifully with its surroundings. One of the features (and there are many unique features for the times is circulating piped hot water embedded in the concrete floor and heavy use of brick, glass and gorgeous Cypress wood that resists pest infestations. (footnote) I had taken in a course in Architecture in the 1960’s and remember thinking then after seeing a photo in my architecture school book was the Rosenbaum House. I admired it then and now was actually able to visit, some 53-years later.
When the house was completed in 1940 there was a view of the TN. River. Today other homes and trees have obscured that view, never-the-less the wonderful landscape today is in perfect sync with the house today. The home was expanded as the Rosenbaum family grew and Wright was asked to design an addition which he flawlessly created to match the original plan. From 1940 to 1999 the Rosenbaum families were the sole occupants. Today it is the property of the City and is a museum accessible to everyone. There is an admission charge. Go: www.wrightinalabama.com www.florenceal.org 256-718-5050
Stay with us, see the next music oriented museums in our next posts!