Monthly Update
An Exciting Start To 2024
OA+D Archives is pleased to have added more than 500 photographs and document images to the online catalog. The newly cataloged items give unique glimpses into the backstory behind the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and Taliesin Architects. These selections also provide examples of the significant interrelationships found between OA+D Archives collections.
From the John U. Ottenheimer Collection come 442 black-and-white and color construction images for the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church commissioned from Frank Lloyd Wright in 1956. These photographs made by Ottenheimer document the entire process of construction of this landmark religious structure from July, 1959, to October, 1961. The start to finish images include extensive and often detailed views of site preparation, formwork for concrete, utility installation, and interior detailing. As a group, these images may offer one of the best contiguous views of the process for realizing a Frank Lloyd Wright design.
From the A. Louis Wiehle Papers comes a related 44 page portfolio that Wiehle prepared in 1965 for presentation while seeking employment in Southern California after he left Taliesin. This leather covered binder contains original design sketches of the liturgical furnishings, bronze front doors, and monumental cross road signage for the Annunciation building. On reviewing the latter sketch, Wiehle relates the hitherto unknown fact that the monumental cross was designed to be executed in aluminum, but was made instead of concrete without his knowledge.
The pages of the Wiehle portfolio also present drawings, photographs, and publications for 11 other Frank Lloyd Wright and Taliesin Architects commissions on which Wiehle collaborated. This remarkable collation of documents includes original design drawings for the bimah furniture at Beth Sholom Synagogue; original presentation sketches for an apartment tower component of the Masterplan for Taliesin West Land Development, and other original furniture and interior design drawings. A number of photographic prints show his authorship of drawings for, among others, Park Fletcher Industrial Park and Research Center, Monona Terrace Civic Center, and the Museum Building for Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation (“Guggenheim Museum”).
An interesting highlight concerns the appearance in the portfolio of drawings for a house for Colonel and Mrs. Thomas O’Rourke designed in 1965. A first scheme for this dwelling produced by Wiehle was rejected by Olgivanna Lloyd Wright as being too conventional. Wiehle retained these drawings when he left Taliesin and they are found in his papers, but he also produced drawings for a second scheme designed by William Wesley Peters which appear in the portfolio. The project did not proceed to construction.
COMING UP: We are very thankful for the financial support provided to OA+D Archives by sponsors of our initiative to give public access to Henry Fuermann and Sons Frank Lloyd Wright Negative Collection. This group of materials has been called “the most important photographs in American architectural history.” That OA+D was able to acquire these is almost miraculous and required major contributions from generous donors. We are in the process of scanning these historic photographs and will be mounting them into the online catalog over the next few months. There is still a need for support of this endeavor, so consider sponsoring the negative(s) of your choice. For those who have already adopted, thank you!
OA+D NEWS & EVENTS
Remembering Charles Robert Schiffner
All of us at OA+D were saddened at the news that our dear friend Charles Robert Schiffner, 75, passed away at his home on December 28th, 2023. Charles was a noted Phoenix-based architect, artist, poet, and arts supporter who was the designer responsible for the Ahwautukee House of the Future (1980), the aesthetic designs for the Outer Loop 101 Pima Freeway, the Painted Cliffs and McQuireville Arizona State Highway Rest Area Program, and many more remarkable architectural creations. His designs reflect his Native American heritage, a childhood growing up amidst the Sierra Nevadas, and fourteen years as a student and staff architect at the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.
Schiffner was born on September 2nd, 1948 in Reno, Nevada. He grew up in Nevada City, CA, a lumber town about 60 miles from Lake Tahoe. After the death of his father in 1963, Charles moved with his mother to Sacramento, CA, where he graduated from high school and enrolled at Sacramento City College.
One day, in an architectural delineation class, a fellow student tossed him a brochure, an application to the FLLW School of Architecture, Taliesin West, Scottsdale, AZ. Thinking it might be a better alternative to college, Charles filled out the application and sent it in. He soon received a letter from the registrar, inviting him to interview with Mrs. Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin West.
Charles joined the Taliesin Fellowship in the fall of 1968 embracing the principles of Organic Architecture in his life and work. In 1972 he married the late Iovanna Lloyd Wright and expanded his talents to writing poetry and art.
In 1983 he married Adrienne, also a member of the Taliesin Fellowship. Together they left Taliesin and opened Charles’ architectural office in Phoenix, Charles Robert Schiffner Architect Ltd. Many projects followed, including numerous residences located throughout the United States, the Seventh Day Adventist Executive Headquarters for the State of Arizona, 33 West Missouri Condominiums, the restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Raymond Carlson Residence, the Eaglewing Replacement Housing for the Salt River Pima/Maricopa Indian Community, the aesthetic designs for the 101 Pima Freeway, the Gila River Wild Horse Pass Casino, the Painted Cliffs and McQuireville Arizona State Highway Rest Area Program, the Government Resource Center for the Yavpai/Apache Prescott Tribe, and the Virginia Ullman Learning Center at the Heard Museum to name just a few.
Often asked what type of architecture he specialized in, Charles responded “everything from freeways to furniture.”
His designs received multiple awards including the American Institute of Architects Honor Award/Western Mountain Region in 1993, Sunset Magazine’s Western Home awards in 1989 and 1991, and the AIA Arizona Merit Award in 1993. A staunch proponent of organic architecture, he lectured at the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, mentoring both students and architects.
An ardent supporter of the arts, Charles served on the Board of the Scottsdale Cultural Council and was a member of the Public Art Committee. He was proud to support the Organic Architecture and Design Archives located in Chandler, AZ, which devoted the spring 2023 issue of their Journal of Organic Architecture + Design to his work. In December of this year, the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale honored him with an exhibition of his abstractions and poetry.
Charles is survived by his wife Adrienne, his children Annabelle and William, his stepdaughters Eve Lloyd Binnie, Anita Burchett Claussen, and Arianne Burchett, his grandchildren Alexia Burchett, Julian Claussen and Isabella Claussen, and great-grandchildren Adrian and Daniel Burchett.
A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, April 7th in Phoenix. Invitations to follow. The family has asked that donations in Charles’ honor can be made to the OA+D Archives, c/o Mike Rust, 1321 W. McNair Street, Chandler, AZ 85224.
We will miss our wonderful friend and will honor his memory by continuing to preserve and showcase the legacy of organic architecture and design that he helped grow and enliven with his own creative spirit.
From The Archives
Sometimes the contents of an archival collection contain unique objects that are amazing survivals of now vanished structures. An example in OA+D Archives collections of these kinds of artifacts are the last two surviving wooden fragments from Eleanor’s Retreat, a small building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for the Arch Oboler estate in Malibu, California (1946).
In 2018, the Woolsey fire swept through Malibu and completely destroyed the Eleanor’s Retreat cabin and the Gatehouse that served as a primary residence on the property. However, the firm of Wiehle-Carr Architecture, whose records are now held by OA+D Archives, designed a restoration of Eleanor’s Retreat as well as a new house as part of a masterplan for the estate in 1998.
As part of their research a complete photographic survey was conducted of the Oboler property (which is queued for mounting in our online catalog). Along the way two sample wooden grilles were acquired to serve as templates for the restoration of decorative elements in Eleanor’s Retreat.
These sawed wood panels (approximately 42” long by 8” high) are made of redwood. Unfortunately, longtime exposure to sun and sea weather along the California coast caused the panels to become fragile, corroded their finishes, and the dry wood subject to cracking. OA+D Archives will require funding the services of a professional conservator to arrest the decay, strengthen the structure, and restore the surface of these important examples of Wright design before they can be exhibited publicly.
If you have materials that are related to the Oboler Estate (or any other organic architectural or design items) that you're interested in donating to join our growing collections, please let us know by contacting us at info@oadarchives.org.
Journal OA+D Vol. 11 / No. 3 Arriving Soon!
The current winter issue of our flagship publication, The Journal of Organic Architecture + Design will (finally) be arriving to mailboxes in the coming week. The holidays, weather, and some unfortunate printing press issues all conspired to delay its release, but it will be worth the wait!
This issue is a long-overdue monograph on the life and creative work of architect and Taliesin Apprentice, Allen Lape Davison.
Joining Taliesin in 1938, Frank Lloyd Wright soon saw that "Davy" was an especially talented delineator, responsible for the origination of the dramatic night scenes of several Wright projects. Davison also differentiated himself as a creative powerhouse with his "box projects" given to Mr. Wright for his birthday and for Christmas. As a TAA staff architect, Davy was responsible for designing more than a dozen residential projects over the next fifteen years until his death at Taliesin West on December 18, 1974.
This 40 page journal features an introductory biographical essay as well as scores of never-before-published drawings, photos, and artwork that feature Davy's remarkable creative genius.
If you're a subscriber or already ordered a copy, it will arrive very soon (and thanks for your patience). There's still time to pre-order to get one of the first copies, so follow the link to order! For the best deal, consider becoming an annual subscriber to the Journal, get all three issues a year, and also help support OA+D and its mission!