Frank Lloyd Wright

Chauncey L. and Johanna Griggs Residence, Tacoma (Lakewood),
Washington (1945) (S.290)

Exterior Photographs By Douglas Steiner, June 2008

There are many classic Wright details, but it has a very unique feel. There is the hidden entrance. Exposed rough-cut cedar trusses, reminiscent of Taliesin’s Drafting Room. Mitered glass corners. Local cedar. Extensive floor to ceiling glass windows with multiple glass doors that open outward. It is built on a seven foot grid system rather than the standard four foot system. The stunning cantilevered roof over the Gallery Terrace extends fourteen feet past the floor to ceiling glass wall. There are double clerestory windows, the top row		lightens the Gallery, the lower row lightens the Bedrooms. Three fireplaces, the one in the Lounge is large enough to stand in. Everything about this Usonian home is grand. One unique feature about this home is the concrete block wall construction. The standard concrete block home is constructed by staggering each row. These blocks are stacked directly on top of each other. This is consistent with other block homes he designed, the earlier Textile Block homes, Florida Southern College and the later Usonian Automatic homes.


1: After descending a long drive through a forest of massive fir trees and lush ferns, you reach Chambers Creek and cross a bridge to reach the home.


2: View of the carport to the right. Before the Work Space was expanded, the original hidden entrance was past the carport on the left.


3: The creek runs closest to the home just to the right of the carport. At one time the creek was dammed, forming a small pond.


4: The present entrance is just to the left of the carport. The W.C. and Coat Closet were removed to create the new entrance, when the Work Space was expanded. The massive double fireplace structure is seen above the entrance.

5: The East corner of the Lounge. The rough cut cedar siding follows the roof line.

6: Detail of the South East side of the Lounge.

7: Lounge and Gallery seen from the East.

8: The South East side of the Lounge seen from the Footbridge that crosses Chambers Creek just south of the driveway bridge.

9: Massive arched wood beams form the footbridge. The original driveway bridge has the same arched styled beams.

10: View of the home from the South as you cross the footbridge.

11: The natural cedar blends with the landscape.

12: The Sanctum (Master Bedroom / Office) is on the far left, the Gallery is to its right. The stunning cantilevered roof over the Gallery Terrace extends fourteen feet past the floor to ceiling glass wall, which is on the inside of the seven vertical concrete block columns.

13: To the right of the Gallery, left side of this image is the Dining Room. The Lounge, with four hidden vertical concrete block columns, is to the right.

14: The Lounge has three wide doors that pivot outward.

15: Detail of the roof overhand on the Southern corner of the Lounge.

16: Dining room on the left with long vertical nearly floor to ceiling windows.

17: Detail of the Dining Room corner.

18: Detail of the South West Dining Room windows.

19: Galley Terrace looking West. Cantilevered roof over the Gallery Terrace extends fourteen feet past the floor to ceiling glass wall, which is on the inside of the seven vertical concrete block columns.

20: The Galley was originally designed with six wide doors that pivot outward.

21: Addition to the Sanctum (Master Bedroom) added space on this end and in the back.

22: Southern corner of the Sanctum.

23: View of Sanctum from the West. The third fireplace in the Northern corner of the Sanctum is seen above.

24: Sanctum addition is visible in the foreground. There are double clerestory windows, the top row lightens the Gallery, the lower row lightens the Bedrooms.

25: Concrete block freezer seen on the left. Bedrooms on the right in the lower level. Work Space, Living and Gallery clerestory windows seen in the upper level.

26: Viewed from the North. Due to problems with leaking, the original cedar shakes were replaced with a copper roof.

27: Stone paved patio in front of the Entrance was enclosed to enlarge the Work Space.

28: Carport is on the left. Original entry was to the right of the carport.

29: Blocks are stacked directly on top of each other. This is consistent with other block homes he designed. The earlier Textile Block homes, Florida Southern College and the later Usonian Automatic homes.

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