Craftsman Style Architecture

From Art & Crafts to Frank Lloyd Wright

Steve Wauson, owner of Craftsman Homes of Austin, is an experienced and resourceful practitioner of the Craftsman Style in the capital city of Texas. Craftsman style homes have stood the test of time, to some degree because of Gustav Stickley’s dissemination of Craftsman style blueprints and later by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie homes architectural style. Their homes, especially Wright’s, have demonstrated to be long-lasting sturdy structures, such as is his timeless iconic "Fallingwater."

“To me Arts and Craft is all about the philosophy,” says Steve Wauson who in his work uses a great deal of style elements and details of this movement. This philosophy originated in England as a reaction against the Industrial Revolution and the entrenched Victorian fashion. It purported that factory labor underpaid and demeaned the worker. It also ended up with inferior products.

Historically, Craftsman is considered an early 20th century American style of architecture—a subset of the British born, Arts & Craft movement. William Morris (1834-1896), English craftsman, poet, and early socialist, is considered the founder of the Arts and Crafts Movement in the later half of the1900th century. Morris encouraged the return to handmade objects and rejected standard tastes.

This movement represented a reaction against the well established and opulent Victorian fashion. The architect Augustus Pugin and the writer John Ruskin advocated the return to Gothic architecture, strongly reacting, against the inhumanity of the Industrial Revolution and mass production. Other countries soon followed this current, France named it Art Nouveau and Scotland called it the Glasgow School.

Craftsman Style in U.S.

In the United States, Gustav Stickley—a furniture designer—between 1900 and 1916 published a magazine, “The Craftsman”, where he featured one-a-year free plans for Arts & Craft styled homes. Craftsman homes quickly became popular in the U.S. from 1900 to the 1930s, and still after a century remain relevant. Stickley and his designers belonged to the group of architects who in time would inspire the Prairie School Movement—with Frank Lloyd Wright as its icon.

Craftsman homes were built for the middle class. They were low-slung bungalows that employ local wood and stone to underline the importance of nature. Some common features relevant to classic Craftsman homes are: “It proposed that we value the work of craftspeople, artisans and artists. It also stated that the things that we build should blend with nature, be made of natural and local materials, be simple, strong, smart, subtle, comfortable and unique. One hundred and thirty years later still applies, doesn't it?” Asks Wauson, stressing the basic tenets and timelessness of the movement.

The trademark of a Craftsman Home may be defined by: Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), single-handedly used Prairie architecture style to bring forth a true residential prototype, the Ranch, giving the Craftsman movement a new “edge.” Wright’s style can be found in dozens of other housing features, including windows, doors, roofs, and interior design.

“On adhering to Arts and Craft ideals, we search and find the best craftspeople and artisans we can, we compensate them fairly, look out for their safety, and greatly value their input and their skills. They become good friends and family. There is over a hundred years of experience on site and most of us become emotionally vested in the projects on which we toil together.” Says Steve.

On a Wauson home all aspects of a project are centered in achieving uniqueness. Each building is greatly influenced by the site, the craftspeople and artisans. The woodwork, for instance, is specifically designed for each project.

“We modernize traditional ideas by adding new technologies and smart strategies such as rainwater collection, earth sheltering, wildlife habitats, carbon consuming landscapes, Northern exposures, insulation, energy and water efficiency, outdoor living spaces, large casement and fixed glass windows, ponds, waterfalls and grottos.” Says Wauson.

Although space is sparsely utilized in Craftsman homes, its basic function becomes essential to the interior design. Structural elements are commonly exposed for decoration and local materials may be enhanced by subtle changes to the basic design.

"Our work is greatly influenced by the California Architects Greene and Greene, and the Prairie Craftsman designs of Frank Lloyd Wright and Fay Jones, along with Japanese architectural style. We use many Arts and Craft or Craftsman architectural details, and styles such as:

A Craftsman Home

“A Craftsman home is meant to be site related and designed to enhance the surrounding natural features. In this architectural design, function does not trump form.” Says Steve Wauson, and continues, “Simplicity, subtlety and comfort are hugely important elements. We are always aware that the house we build is not what your life is about, but rather its backdrop.” For more information, click here.