Living through the Depression Era in full effect, Frank Lloyd Wright reimagined city life in a way that would allow its residents to truly survive. Based on the automobile, Broadacre City was a new, democratic city that focused on the growth of the individual.
“[A] city is not an arrangement of roads, buildings and spaces, it is a society in action. The city is a process, rather than a form.” Lionel March on Frank Lloyd Wright’s vision for Broadacre City
Urban Development Problems Persist
Urban development has experienced difficulties. Even as Broadacre City was being dreamt up, urban America was deteriorating. Presently, many of our large cities are declining and being abandoned. According to Dean John Meunier, urban life is being destroyed by the lack of meaningful theory of urban land use and unrestrained private development. Meunier says, “What is needed more than theory is a reintroduction of value, and it was in just that area that Broadacre City had its strength. As Wright well knew, only when values are put first will technology become a tool rather than master.”
Broadacre City Values
Evidently, Wright wanted to give architectural and urban form to the ideas of his contemporaries. Along with these economists, pragmatists and political progressives, Wright believed democracy to be a way of life more than a form of government. Value should be placed on the individual, not the government.
“The Old City”, with its pockets of undeserved power and privilege, was being reorganized. A new democratic city, one that would utilize modern technology to its advantage, was coming. Instead of absentee ownership, residents of Broadacre City would own their home, land, and place of work. Also, things like utilities and transportation would be owned by the public, not corporations.
Land and Freedom for All
One feature of Broadacre City was that each freestanding home would have some land attached to it. Every family would have a plot to garden and grow their own food, which was very much at the top of their minds during the Great Depression. Another interesting fact to note is that Wright knew the importance of families spending as much time together as possible. In Broadacre City, many of the residents would work from home. In this aspect, Wright’s vision is coming to life with many jobs now being done remotely.
A Vision Never Completely Realized
Even though Broadacre City ever came to fruition, Wright was able to complete individual projects that addressed his concepts. Until his death in 1959, Wright worked to add what would have been the exemplification of the new city to his work. This included moderate cost housing, community, and public facilities, commercial and manufacturing buildings, which were all designed to enhance life and showcase beauty and excellence.
Add to Your Collection
If you are looking for the perfect piece to begin, or add to, your own art collection, visit our GALLERY. We have beautiful, original mid-century modern pieces by Raymond Loewy and several other artists.
