I am driving down an open, lag-free road at sunset, a cool wind whipping my hair. It is a glorious evening to be exploring this pristine landscape of green lawns punctuated with palms. It is hard to believe that in a very short while, this land will be teeming with builders competing to bring the Usonian vision of Frank Lloyd Wright to [second] life.
This weekend, the Frank Lloyd Wright Virtual Museum of Second Life is organizing the Usonian Ideals Build-Off, inviting some 24 builders, from novice to pro, to compete and “see who can create the most functional and appealing building within the parameters of the USONIAN ideals” promoted by Wright in his writing and architectural work.
The event comes at a very exciting time for the Museum, as it was just announced this week that they have signed an licensing agreement with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation in RL. Details on that excellent news can be found at: Frank Lloyd Wright in SL
USONIAN IDEALS
Wright coined the term Usonia as a new name for ‘the United States of North America’, and the Usonian style was to be a democratic ideal, a modernist building free of ornamentation, in harmony with the landscape.
These homes were to be economical and functional for the depression-era American and not use more resource than was needed, points which still resonate with today’s designers interested in affordable and sustainable housing.
The Usonian style shaped the face of mid-twentieth century American architecture, and many Americans probably grew up in a Usonian-influenced home without even knowing it. The principles of Usonian design that the builders should employ are those which Wright promoted as part of his functional, organic design philosophy:
- A three-zone open floor plan, often L-shaped around a garden terrace, and comprised of a living/dining room, workspace/utility core, and bedrooms
- A modular grid that emphasizes horizontal lines
- Inexpensive natural building materials: stone, brick, concrete, wood, glass
- Cantilevered roof with broad, sheltering eaves, frequently pierced with trellises
- Clerestory windows that expand interior space, frequently constructed from perforated wood screens or fretwork
- Concrete floors with in slab radiant heating
- Built in components for seating and storage
- Carports (another term and architectural element invented by Wright)
I had to keep my drive through the dedicated sim a secret, as the builders were not allowed to see it until the competition began at 6pm SLT on Friday evening. But builders and visitors to the sim, now open to the public, will find that the organizers have been true to Wright’s vision in the layout of the competition area.
In conjunction with the event, the museum is displaying an informative exhibit on Wright and the Usonian style. FLW Museum Curator Bacchus Ireto took some time to chat with me in the gallery about this build-off, the third the museum has sponsored in the short time they have been open (the first was a build in the general style of Wright, and the second focused on the Craftsman home). “We’ve learned some things, and are really emphasizing style this time. Previously, everything was equally weighted.”
In addition to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes in each of the novice and pro categories, there will also be a ‘Spirit Award’ given. When I asked about that, Bacchus smiled, “some people really get into the thing and rez various pieces of construction equipment, porta-potties, lawn chairs, things like that… someone rezzed a giant construction crane last time.” It should be quite the spectacle for building enthusiasts!
Also new this year is a Builder’s Choice award, which Education Director Barbara Collozo tells me will be equal in weight to the People’s Choice award, selected by the builders themselves.
The building event has just kicked off with a fireworks display, and some structures are taking shape already! It lasts until Sunday, Feb 7, 6 PM SLT, on a special ‘build-off’ sim. To get there, take the teleporter outside the Breeze club at the Museum. The event is sponsored by Builder’s Brewery, CK Design, Deerglade Hall Estates, Dvandva, Skidz Partz, Textures R Us, and Zoha Islands.
Prim Perfect 