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S.399 – Annunciation Greek
Orthodox Church, 9400 West Congress Street,
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin Photographed on May 11, 2012. The church is one of Wright’s most famous
designs, and deservedly so. Located in
a Milwaukee suburb, its round shape and reflecting pool make it one of the
most beautiful buildings to photograph.
It is hard to get a bad shot, with access all around the
exterior. Clear blue skies cannot be
guaranteed, however. To me, this building inspires more
contemplation and reflection than any Wright design, other than Fallingwater.
Standard Wright touches take on a whole new meaning when I see this
church. The planters – merely vessels
for foliage at other Wright designs – become offering dishes to God. The ubiquitous “water feature” hint at
baptism when displayed in front of a church.
Even the unique features, such as the roof line, take on a
significance that may or may not have been intended (for example, despite the
Orthodox preference for two-dimensional iconography, is the roofline a
massive three-dimensional crown of thorns?). Alas, while limited tours can be arranged
for groups of 15 or more, the building is otherwise closed to the public
except during church functions. |
New
05/19/2012 Revised
09/30/2012 |