Picture 1 of 1
Gallery
Picture 1 of 1
Have one to sell?
Down to Earth: An Insider's View of Frank Lloyd Wright's Tomek House
US $299.99
ApproximatelyS$ 391.07
Condition:
Oops! Looks like we're having trouble connecting to our server.
Refresh your browser window to try again.
Shipping:
US $3.99 (approx S$ 5.20) USPS Media MailTM.
Located in: San Rafael, California, United States
Delivery:
Estimated between Mon, 10 Nov and Thu, 13 Nov to 94104
Returns:
30 days return. Buyer pays for return shipping. If you use an eBay shipping label, it will be deducted from your refund amount.
Coverage:
Read item description or contact seller for details. See all detailsSee all details on coverage
(Not eligible for eBay purchase protection programmes)
Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.
eBay item number:157170699638
Item specifics
- Condition
- Brand New: A new, unread, unused book in perfect condition with no missing or damaged pages. See all condition definitionsopens in a new window or tab
- ISBN
- 9780809315604
About this product
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Southern Illinois University Press
ISBN-10
0809315602
ISBN-13
9780809315604
eBay Product ID (ePID)
2112681
Product Key Features
Book Title
Down to Earth : an Insider's View of Frank Lloyd Wright's Tomek House
Number of Pages
160 Pages
Language
English
Publication Year
1995
Topic
Design, Drafting, Drawing & Presentation, Individual Architects & Firms / General, Regional, History / General
Illustrator
Yes
Genre
Architecture
Format
Trade Paperback
Dimensions
Item Height
0.4 in
Item Weight
23.5 Oz
Item Length
8.5 in
Item Width
11 in
Additional Product Features
Intended Audience
Trade
LCCN
93-019586
Reviews
"Down to Earth provides just what the title promises, an antidote to all the contrived academic commentaries that merely obscure Wright's architecture from close and honest experience. It draws instead on many years of day-to-day living with a fine work of Wright's. And it also benefits from the fact that the author is herself an artist, alive to perceptions rather than pretentious theorizing."-Donald Hoffman, Down to Earth provides just what the title promises, an antidote to all the contrived academic commentaries that merely obscure Wright's architecture from close and honest experience. It draws instead on many years of day-to-day living with a fine work of Wright's. And it also benefits from the fact that the author is herself an artist, alive to perceptions rather than pretentious theorizing."— Donald Hoffman, "Down to Earth provides just what the title promises, an antidote to all the contrived academic commentaries that merely obscure Wright's architecture from close and honest experience. It draws instead on many years of day-to-day living with a fine work of Wright's. And it also benefits from the fact that the author is herself an artist, alive to perceptions rather than pretentious theorizing."-- Donald Hoffman
Synopsis
In 1974, Maya Moran and her husband purchased a dilapidated Frank Lloyd Wright house in Riverside, Illinois. She has since spent the intervening years rescuing and restoring that house, acting as contractor, maintenance woman, decorator, furniture designer, gardener, curator, and tour guide. In "Down to Earth, "Moran tells how she resurrected the 1904 Tomek House, transforming it into both a home and a showplace, and describes in vivid detail its impact on her life.Historian Robert Twombly notes in his foreword, "This is the first book about a Prairie house by someone who lives in one, the first about restoring a Wright residence, about renewing his landscaping. It is the first to reveal the tribulations, responsibilities, and frustrations (as well as the joys, rewards, and stimulations) of caring for such a place, that is, of living inside an early work of Wright s art. And it is the first to describe how Wright s] ideas transformed the lives of real people. It is a book, therefore, about the union of theory and practice."Illustrating her story with nearly ninety photographs and with Wright s preliminary renderings and site and floor plans, Moran describes not only an early Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie house but also the people who have lived in it and the town in which it is located. The first owners, Ferdinand and Emily Tomek, are as important to the story as is the village of Riverside itself. One of the first planned suburbs in the United States, Riverside occupies a unique position in the history of landscape architecture.Moran compellingly shows how Frank Lloyd Wright continues even now to influence the inhabitants of the Tomek House: as she puts it, she has designed gardens and furnishings the "Wright way" in keeping with the harmony and spirit Wright imbued his dwellings. Through her discussion of all aspects of living in the Tomek Housefrom struggling with drainage problems to appreciating its fine acoustics and the magic of its play of lightshe convincingly conveys an intimate understanding of the house.Reflecting on her years residing in a Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie house, Moran writes, "We were unaware of the heavy responsibility we had assumed and did not suspect that after our labors a work of art would reemerge. Little did we know that it would take many years, with Wright looking over our shoulders. Little did I know that it would become a love-hate affair, for the first seven years were most trying (though slowly the repose and beauty of the house began to captivate me). I had no inkling that ethics would play a role in maintaining, owning, and being owned by a Wright house. Nor did I have any idea of the varied sacrifices the house would demand. We certainly had no idea that a Wright boom was coming and with it a stream of visitors, or that our lives would be enriched in many ways."", In 1974, Maya Moran and her husband purchased a dilapidated Frank Lloyd Wright house in Riverside, Illinois. She has since spent the intervening years rescuing and restoring that house, acting as contractor, maintenance woman, decorator, furniture designer, gardener, curator, and tour guide. In Down to Earth, Moran tells how she resurrected the 1904 Tomek House, transforming it into both a home and a showplace, and describes in vivid detail its impact on her life. Historian Robert Twombly notes in his foreword, "This is the first book about a Prairie house by someone who lives in one, the first about restoring a Wright residence, about renewing his landscaping. It is the first to reveal the tribulations, responsibilities, and frustrations (as well as the joys, rewards, and stimulations) of caring for such a place, that is, of living inside an early work of Wright's art. And it is the first to describe how [Wright's] ideas transformed the lives of real people. It is a book, therefore, about the union of theory and practice." Illustrating her story with nearly ninety photographs and with Wright's preliminary renderings and site and floor plans, Moran describes not only an early Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie house but also the people who have lived in it and the town in which it is located. The first owners, Ferdinand and Emily Tomek, are as important to the story as is the village of Riverside itself. One of the first planned suburbs in the United States, Riverside occupies a unique position in the history of landscape architecture. Moran compellingly shows how Frank Lloyd Wright continues even now to influence the inhabitants of the Tomek House: as she puts it, she has designed gardens and furnishings the "Wright way" in keeping with the harmony and spirit Wright imbued his dwellings. Through her discussion of all aspects of living in the Tomek House--from struggling with drainage problems to appreciating its fine acoustics and the magic of its play of light--she convincingly conveys an intimate understanding of the house. Reflecting on her years residing in a Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie house, Moran writes, "We were unaware of the heavy responsibility we had assumed and did not suspect that after our labors a work of art would reemerge. Little did we know that it would take many years, with Wright looking over our shoulders. Little did I know that it would become a love-hate affair, for the first seven years were most trying (though slowly the repose and beauty of the house began to captivate me). I had no inkling that ethics would play a role in maintaining, owning, and being owned by a Wright house. Nor did I have any idea of the varied sacrifices the house would demand. We certainly had no idea that a Wright boom was coming and with it a stream of visitors, or that our lives would be enriched in many ways."
LC Classification Number
NA7238.R58M62 1995
Item description from the seller
Seller feedback (2,934)
- 2***o (203)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseAs described in perfect condition no damage to whole lot handled with care very good price package with bubble wrap appearance fantastic very brand new quality fantastic fantastic definently recommend ships rite away no waiting AAA+++ definently coming back thank you sellerSpace 1999: Megaset [DVD] (#156355852615)
- i***l (194)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseMy books arrived quickly and were well-packaged. Books were in excellent condition as described. Would definitely purchase from this seller again.
- n***h (863)- Feedback left by buyer.Past yearVerified purchaseGreat eBay seller. Perfect transaction. Fast shipping. Expert packing job/materials. Very reasonable shipping charges. Excellent customer service and communications. Item description was/is right on. Very pleased all the way around. Five stars for sure. THANK YOU!!Strauss: Operas (#156607876078)
Seller feedback (2,934)
- 2***o (203)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseAs described in perfect condition no damage to whole lot handled with care very good price package with bubble wrap appearance fantastic very brand new quality fantastic fantastic definently recommend ships rite away no waiting AAA+++ definently coming back thank you sellerSpace 1999: Megaset [DVD] (#156355852615)
- i***l (194)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseMy books arrived quickly and were well-packaged. Books were in excellent condition as described. Would definitely purchase from this seller again.
- n***h (863)- Feedback left by buyer.Past yearVerified purchaseGreat eBay seller. Perfect transaction. Fast shipping. Expert packing job/materials. Very reasonable shipping charges. Excellent customer service and communications. Item description was/is right on. Very pleased all the way around. Five stars for sure. THANK YOU!!Strauss: Operas (#156607876078)