Description:

Frank Lloyd Wright
n.p., ca. 1956
Frank Lloyd Wright Signed Architectural Plan for Monona Terrace, Historic!
Signed art
A superb offering: an original, hand-drawn architectural plan for the historic Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center project in Madison, WI, signed by Frank Lloyd Wright ca. 1956 in his iconic red square. The plan - executed in purple, red, and brown colored pencils - measures 60.5" x 27.5" when unrolled. Wright signs with his initials at the lower left in his 1" red square. In good condition overall, with some faded writing, uneven discoloration, chipped edges, closed tears, minor loss at corners, and residual tape along edges. The initials are bright and clear. Offered with a fine content typed letter from Wright (unsigned).

The Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center (known as Monona Terrace) was first conceived by Wright, a Wisconsin native, in 1938. Original plans for this semi-circular "Dream Civic Center" included a multi-functional municipal space linking the Lake Monona waterfront with the State Capitol. The original plans also featured an interconnected courthouse, community venue, and railroad depot.

The project was shelved during World War II, initially approved in 1955, and then blocked through legislation 1957-1959 due to legislation reducing the height of lakefront buildings, titled Bill 300A.

No stranger to resistance and hostility to his designs, Wright lashes out against the Wisconsin Legislature in a typed letter included in this lot. Comprising 4pp. of classic Wright vitriol dated September 25, 1957, it reads, in small part:

"…The Governor has not asked me for any confirmation or refutations [of the height of the building]…He has approved unconscientious objections contrary to the will of the people of Madison where their home share in the lake should be, and is, actually paramount…The unconscientious objector…is a recent addition to our crop of weeds - political opportunists. Usually a nobody who wants to be somebody, he picks on some high-up name in the news and gets himself noticed by objecting with falsehoods to whatever goes on in that name…Should his picture get into the paper with his false affront (the more false statements the better) he is good for drinks all around…by nature a liar, a hound for publicity at all costs…a liability to whatsoever cause he presents…".

A copy of a letter from The Wright Foundation soliciting funds in defense of the project is included.

The project narrowly passed in 1959, and Wright's last plans of Monona Terrace date from just before the architect's death in April, 1959. The Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center construction began in 1994 was finally finished in 1997. Its exterior shell is "all Wright," and original interior was done by one of Wright's top-tier apprentices, Anthony Puttnam.

This particular plan of Monona Terrace dates towards the end of the planning process, in 1956, and exhibits symmetrical wings that extended outwards towards Lake Monona. Within, Wright has included a lounge at the center surrounded by radiating rings of conference rooms and larger meeting places. Interior space has also been allocated for offices, machinery rooms, and twin boathouses. Although this plan is not explicitly titled "Monona Terrace", the inclusion of landmarks like North Shore Drive, Olin Drive, the railroad, and the lakefront make its identity unmistakable.

Today, this popular urban venue attracts residents and tourists alike with its six levels including a roof-top terrace, yoga studio and farmer's market, as well as hosting over 600 events each year. In 2023, new bids were being taken to extend Wright's design and to make accessible connection points from the Monona Lake shore to the city streets and urban park spaces - plans which Wright, the father of "organic" and integrative architecture - might indeed have approved.

Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) was an American architect, designer, writer, and educator. He designed more than one thousand structures over a creative period of seventy years. Wright played a key role in the architectural movements of the twentieth century, influencing architects worldwide through his works and hundreds of apprentices in his Taliesin Fellowship. Wright believed in designing in harmony with humanity and the environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture, which particularly emphasized the use of natural light. This philosophy was exemplified in one of his most acclaimed works, Fallingwater, designed by Wright in 1935 for the Kaufman family.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

    Dimensions:
  • 60" x 27.5"
  • Artist Name:
  • Frank Lloyd Wright
  • Medium:
  • Signed art

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

March 12, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to [bp]% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions