Johanna and I were extremely fortunate to obtain two tickets to the Auldbrass Plantation tour this past weekend. For those of you that don't know, Frank Lloyd Wright designed one plantation house during his career and it is located in the low country of South Carolina in Yemassee. The plantation was purchased by Hollywood producer Joel Silver in 1986 after sitting in disrepair for some years. The transformation since that time has been quite remarkable. FLW's original vision for the property was never fully realized by the original owners, but Mr. Silver has made it his mission to finish out the project. The most noticeable feature through out the property is the slant present in every structure. Though Mr. Wright only visited the site once, he made a profound observation that the live oak trees of the low country tend to lean and in his estimation at 81 degrees. Thus the slant.
Architecture geekery aside, Auldbrass is magnificent. Arriving at the front gate, you are immediately captivated by the peacefulness of the site. The long walk up the main drive with the only sound the crushed red brick beneath your shoes, you feel you have arrived at the juxtaposition of modern architecture and something more historical. There is something intuitive in Mr. Wright's design, something that makes you question whether the buildings or the trees came first. An utterly preposterous thought considering these live oaks are hundreds of years old, but it lingers as you pass through the entry gate that is part of the 500 foot long service building and see the house laid out before you. The prairie style is very evident, but the slant roots the house into a southern landscape. Images of white column plantations fade away into a more democratic arrangement that places livestock stalls, servant quarters, and the big house on a level playing field.
We progressed around the site and through the various tours constantly amazed at each detail that was revealed along our journey. Roof downspouts made to mimic spanish moss, a herd of Zebras roaming, caretaker quarters that hug the earth, and the every present "logo" a tribute to the local Yemassee Indians.
Leaving Auldbrass we had lunch just down the road at the Old Sheldon Church. As rumor has it, Sherman's troops burnt the church for the second time in it's history. We couldn't help but wonder how his troops would have reacted to seeing Auldbrass if it existed then.
