John King looks at how Wright's Marin County Civic Center, which the architect described as a "three-dimensional essay on the relationship between government and governed," has stood the test of time.
Designed in 1959, near the end of Wright's life, the Civic Center is described by Victor Sidy, dean of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture in Arizona, as no less than "a true realization of his ideals about society."
Although some aspects of the building have not weathered well - its roof has leaked almost from the start - King describes it as "that rarest of buildings: a popular favorite that also holds lessons for architectural scholars."
"His creation indeed is organic," says King, "sumptuous curves poured across the
landscape beneath a long low sky-blue roof, yet futuristic enough that
the building was used as a set in the science-fiction movies 'Gattaca'
and 'THX-1138.' Above all else it is confident - embracing at once the
natural setting of the tumbling hills and the imposed potential of a
structure where citizens can check out a book, go on trial, get married
and grab a quick lunch."
FULL STORY: At 50, Marin Civic Center comes of age
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