The Phoenix Business Journal ran an on-line article about six graduate students from the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture working on a development project titled "Lily Valley" with an urban planner in the Katrina-ravaged town of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Victor Sidy, dean of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, is quoted in the article as saying:
"We wanted to bring our expertise to bear on the tragic consequences of Katrina, but to do so in such a way that made sense for the residents displaced by the hurricane, and that respected the unique nature of the area to be developed. This is a new concept in urban planning and development, one that creates a balance, a harmony among the residents, culture, the climate and other natural elements -- all of those things that are indigenous to a certain place. It's not retro -- it's forward looking and we are very excited about the results."
The prospect of developing an entire community with Wright's organic architecture ideas as the basis for its creation is both interesting and long overdue. It hearkens back to Wright's ideas for Broadacre City that were never realized, yet still inspire many in architectural and academic circles. Katrina was a terrible tragedy, but something remarkable can come out of it if a new model for American living can be established based on the ideas of a truly American Architecture espoused by Frank Lloyd Wright.
This is all in the early stages and time will tell if this "Lily Valley" project will be precedent setting or forgettable. PrairieMod will be following this story as it unfolds and keep you updated. As always, we invite anyone with additional information on this subject to let us know!
Image courtesy of www.taliesin.edu
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