The Sound of Fallingwater

Visiting The Fallingwater house for the first time to me, was similar to when I visited the TajMahal for the first time. Both these buildings, iconic in their own ways have had a special place in my mind for a long time. It's the build-up experience prior to actually seeing the building , that was very similar and exciting in both cases.

I visited TajMahal in 2009 for the first time - the classic picturesque frame of the tomb, with its reflection in water. As an Indian, one has literally lived with this image since birth - in books, movies, etc. But once you're actually in the grounds, the experience is a whole new feeling. You don't see the actual building until you walk past the series of fort walls , and finally the entrance archway slowly reveals the beauty. It's the moment when years of built-up imagination and reality meet each other. 

The build-up for Fallingwater begins at the very beginning of your architectural journey. The anticipation intensified over the years and after almost 13 years, I was lucky to visit the house. 

The tour began at the visitor center and I could already hear the gushing water hitting the rocks somewhere in the vicinity. It was a short hike in the densely wooded Bear Run nature reserve towards the house. When I got my first sight on the building, I was slightly disappointed as I was not greeted with THE iconic image. I later realised that, like TajMahal, the wow moment was reserved for the last!

After years of lectures, posts and reading material on the Fallingwater about organic architecture, the classic and bold cantilevers, building in harmony with nature, etc- I tried my best to experience the house sans the architectural jargon in my mind and just enjoy the moment for what it was. I have to say it was a truly gratifying experience. 

I feel the astounding genius of Wright is that he managed to create a space, that bowed down to nature, opened out to it in all possible ways, co-existed with it and YET - he managed to conceive an eternal image for his creation. When I was inside the house, I still connected to the outdoors - the rustling leaves of the maple trees, the sound of insects and birds and most of all, the water. Wright has just created a medium to appreciate the setting even more. 

When I finally laid my eyes on the iconic image towards the end of the tour, I couldn't help but smile. Smile and admire the genius of Wright in naming this house very aptly - The Fallingwater. How can something be so invisible, yet stand out? So humble, yet so proud? I would probably never know - I bow down to the genius mind of you, Mr.Wright! 

If at all you get the chance to visit this house, I'd suggest you remove all architectural terms from your mind - stop looking for window details, masonry joints, joinery details, etc - All you have to do is listen.