tile in style |
The FLW Foundation will approve all fabrication plans and designs . These copyrighted designs by Frank Lloyd Wright will then be certified with the Foundation ’ s seal , either embedded in the lobby floor or on a separate legal document . In this way , the use of Wright ’ s copyrighted design will be clearly authorized and documented .
“ An architect or designer can now draw upon the extensive FLW Foundation archives , make a selection , and Creative Edge will fabricate the original Wright design in a stone or terrazzo floor ,” says Jim Belilove , CEO and President of Creative Edge . “ The designs by Wright could be used as medallions , accents , lines or borders . This is a rare opportunity to incorporate the genius of Frank Lloyd Wright in any building or home , truly honoring his work as a living , breathing , ongoing legacy .”
A Marriage of Art and Technology
Throughout his long career , Wright embraced new technologies and tactics , constantly pushing the boundaries of his field . Although Wright used handcrafted elements in his homes , he strongly believed that technology could make beautiful homes available to the common person . He wrote , “ the machine , by its wonderful cutting , shaping , smoothing and repetitive capacity has made it possible to so use it without waste that the poor as well as the rich may enjoy today beautiful surface treatments .”
He could have been talking about the computer-programmed waterjet machines of Creative Edge , which cut intricate designs from brittle , hard surfaces such as marble , tile or stone . The artistic creations by Creative Edge are found in ordinary homes , villas , palaces — and public venues from the entryway to Disney World to the NASA Astronaut ’ s Memorial to the Denver Airport lobby .
“ A single lobby floor can involve thousands of intricately cut pieces in multiple colors that are inlaid into the stone or tile with such precision that there is almost a seamless gap between each piece of stone ,” says Belilove . “ Basically , anything you can design on paper can now be rendered in stone by waterjet technology , which can precision-cut the tiniest pieces , down to one-sixteenth of an inch .”
In other words , as Wright predicted , today an ordinary person can enjoy a stone floor that rivals what was found in the grandest venues in the past , thanks to technology .
“ When the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation first approached us , they told us that Wright clearly embraced technology as an essential element for architecture ,” says Belilove .
“ For that reason , they felt that Wright would enjoy the way waterjet technology has made it possible to render his intricate geometric designs in a distinctive stone or terrazzo floor , setting the tone for the whole building .”
28 FABULOUSfloors