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Larkin Administration Building
William Watkins, “Larkin Company Headquarters,” Digital Photograph, 1919, _New York Tourism 1919_, Gainesville, Georgia.
Designed in 1903 the Larkin Administration Building would become one of the most prominent architectural designs of the twentieth century. Larkin would employ architect Frank Lloyd Wright to design and oversee the construction of the innovative building. Wright, a very ingenious designer, would be one of the first architects to focus on functionality over artistic expression or appeal. The building would become famous for its unique features, such as plate-glass windows, built in desk furniture, suspended toilet bowls, and air conditioning; an invention barely a year old. In 1906 Larkin would hire famous sculptor Richard Bock to integrate human figures on the building to add some artistic appeal to the often criticized headquarters. When the Larkin headquarters was built the Larkin Soap Company was at its peak of success. The company had started manufacturing groceries, dry goods, furniture, and china sets. The company had implemented similar principles as Ford with its mass labor force; an assembly line being the most notable. To keep a demand in employment Larkin commissioned Wright to design and oversee the construction of row houses for all employees of Larkin. The move crippled the company adding to its initial loss from the Great Depression. By 1943 Larkin sold the Administrative Building along with others. The Larkin Company soon after would declare bankruptcy due to the substantial loss accumulated during the Great Depression and the change in American retail. Like the previous depressions that occurred in the U.S.A. society’s beliefs changed greatly due to the distrust placed in businesses. After the Great Depression many people began to distrust business and banks; which led the United States government to regulate business and economic affairs. This increased regulation led to the widespread belief that the government should maintain high employment and guarantee citizens a better life. This gave rise to the New Left, a more progressive-liberal movement in politics. Another notably change in American business was the unprecedented growth of labor unions and the general acceptance of socialistic ideals. The Administrative Building was foreclosed upon by the City of Buffalo in 1945 due to back taxes that had built up. Buffalo tried selling the building over the course of five years and considered other uses for the building. However during that time period the Administrative building was vandalized by various gangs. The Western Trading Company bought the building in 1949 and announced company plans to demolish it for a truck stop. This news was met with great criticism by both the architectural community and the city’s historical society. Though greatly unpopular the Western Trading Company demolished the building in 1950, sadly a truck stop was never built. All that is left from the historical building is a single brick pier which stands beside a railroad embankment.
1. Peter Gossel and Gabriele Leuthauser, _Architecture of the 20th Century_ (Los Angeles: Taschen, 2005), 130.
2. David Watkin, _Morality and Architecture_ (Oxford: Claredon Press 1977), 92-94.
3. Phillip Jodido, _Architecture: Art_ (Munich: Prestel, 2005), 24-27.
4. Carole Rifkind, _Comtemporary American Architecture_ (New York: Dutton, 1998), 166-169.
5. Paul Venable Turner, “Frank Lloyd Wright’s Other Larkin Building,” Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians 39, no. 4, (1980): 304-306.
6. Howard R. Stanger, “From Factory to Family: The Creation of a Corporate Culture in the Larkin Company of Buffalo, New York,” Business History Review 74, no. 3, (2000): 407-433.
Wikipedia Links:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larkin_Administration_Building
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Lloyd_Wright
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Architecture
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_depression
Larkin Administration Building
William Watkins, “Larkin Company Headquarters,” Digital Photograph, 1919, _New York Tourism 1919_, Gainesville, Georgia.
Designed in 1903 the Larkin Administration Building would become one of the most prominent architectural designs of the twentieth century. Larkin would employ architect Frank Lloyd Wright to design and oversee the construction of the innovative building. Wright, a very ingenious designer, would be one of the first architects to focus on functionality over artistic expression or appeal. The building would become famous for its unique features, such as plate-glass windows, built in desk furniture, suspended toilet bowls, and air conditioning; an invention barely a year old. In 1906 Larkin would hire famous sculptor Richard Bock to integrate human figures on the building to add some artistic appeal to the often criticized headquarters. When the Larkin headquarters was built the Larkin Soap Company was at its peak of success. The company had started manufacturing groceries, dry goods, furniture, and china sets. The company had implemented similar principles as Ford with its mass labor force; an assembly line being the most notable. To keep a demand in employment Larkin commissioned Wright to design and oversee the construction of row houses for all employees of Larkin. The move crippled the company adding to its initial loss from the Great Depression. By 1943 Larkin sold the Administrative Building along with others. The Larkin Company soon after would declare bankruptcy due to the substantial loss accumulated during the Great Depression and the change in American retail. Like the previous depressions that occurred in the U.S.A. society’s beliefs changed greatly due to the distrust placed in businesses. After the Great Depression many people began to distrust business and banks; which led the United States government to regulate business and economic affairs. This increased regulation led to the widespread belief that the government should maintain high employment and guarantee citizens a better life. This gave rise to the New Left, a more progressive-liberal movement in politics. Another notably change in American business was the unprecedented growth of labor unions and the general acceptance of socialistic ideals. The Administrative Building was foreclosed upon by the City of Buffalo in 1945 due to back taxes that had built up. Buffalo tried selling the building over the course of five years and considered other uses for the building. However during that time period the Administrative building was vandalized by various gangs. The Western Trading Company bought the building in 1949 and announced company plans to demolish it for a truck stop. This news was met with great criticism by both the architectural community and the city’s historical society. Though greatly unpopular the Western Trading Company demolished the building in 1950, sadly a truck stop was never built. All that is left from the historical building is a single brick pier which stands beside a railroad embankment.
1. Peter Gossel and Gabriele Leuthauser, _Architecture of the 20th Century_ (Los Angeles: Taschen, 2005), 130.
2. David Watkin, _Morality and Architecture_ (Oxford: Claredon Press 1977), 92-94.
3. Phillip Jodido, _Architecture: Art_ (Munich: Prestel, 2005), 24-27.
4. Carole Rifkind, _Comtemporary American Architecture_ (New York: Dutton, 1998), 166-169.
5. Paul Venable Turner, “Frank Lloyd Wright’s Other Larkin Building,” Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians 39, no. 4, (1980): 304-306.
6. Howard R. Stanger, “From Factory to Family: The Creation of a Corporate Culture in the Larkin Company of Buffalo, New York,” Business History Review 74, no. 3, (2000): 407-433.
Wikipedia Links:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larkin_Administration_Building
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Lloyd_Wright
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Architecture
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_depression