Johnson Wax front view architecture design

The SC Johnson and son administration building is the most statement for the nature of office buildings in Frank Lloyd Wright architect. This building is located in Racine, Wisconsin. H.F Johnson Jr. Is commissioned the Wright to design a worldwide headquarters administration building. This building is intended for the family company. In 1936 Wright’s drawing were approved and the building officially opened in April of 1939.

The most identifiable element of Wright is the dendriform columns. Wright often referred to as the Johnson Wax Building. The name of Wright itself is used because of their tree like shape. Wright ability is to effortlessly incorporate the organic metaphor into his architecture. It is revealed in the building through a tall slender mushroom column which tapers on a base of a mere 9 inch diameter. It rise up to 30 feet and terminate at the roof levels as a broad circular lily pad of concrete 18, 5 feet wide. The Wright’s led which produce an imagination intended to create the hollow cored columns which is serves as a storm water drains and which featured hinged bases with pin jointed bronze shoes. The circular lily pads of the concrete are woven together by a membrane of Pyrex glass tubing which is illuminate spaces with the natural light. It is use the Pyrex glass tubing. It is allowed for a lot of the diffused light to enter through the interior inside of the Johnson Wax Building. The large workspace is well lit with indirect light and very little glare, resulting in a work environment conducive for creativity.

The exterior walls which constructed with a red bricks are non-loaded bearings. Red Kasota sandstone and reinforce concrete with cold drawn mesh used for the reinforcement is the materials which is used in the construction of the Johnson Wax Building. The designer also designed more over the 200 of the different shapes of the bricks which can be found in the building. The typical of Wright’s work at the time is the earthy colors, including his signature Cherokee Red Color.

A large work space is formed by the mushroom columns and the glass tubing ceiling. It is nearby one half acre in size. The great mushroom is furnished with a specific Wright which is designed in pieces, two circular elevators and a mezzanine. The thoughtfully creating over the 40 pieces of furniture is the prove that he trully provide a complete design for this building. The elevators took on a birdcage like appearance providing a panoramic view of the Great Room traveling from the basement to the Penthouse level.

This building is a bit similar being in a forest. A low ceiling carport featuring the shortened mushroom columns lead to the lobby. When you reach in the great room, the sky is opens and you are surrounded by slender mushroom columns which light streams in front overhead.

The column is expected by most to fail at providing the appropriate amount of strength to support the roof. For the anticipation of this, Wright has a test column which constructed of which proved that the design can support over five times anything they would be asked to carry.

Wright provided almost utopian workspace, self-sufficient and a bit futuristic. The modern streamlined atmosphere was communicated through a consistent circular language; curved corner profiles, rounded shapes in furniture pieces, and use of Pyrex glass tubing extending beyond roofing materials for wall dividers and replacing conventional windows.

Frank Lloyd Wright was quoted in the Racine Times describing the SC Johnson Administration building as “simply and sincerely an interpretation of modern business conditions designed to be as inspiring to live in and work in as any cathedral ever was to worship in.”

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Johnson Wax pyrex glass tubing architecture design

Johnson Wax great room interior design

Johnson Wax lobby interior design

Johnson Wax mushroom column architecture design

Johnson Wax exterior architectture design

Johnson Wax corner interior design

Johnson Wax detail ceiling interior design

Johnson Wax mezzanine architecture design

Johnson Wax work space interior design