Honestidad material. Castlecrag 1920-1937

Abstract

RESUMEN La arquitectura producida a comienzos del siglo XX por la denominada Escuela de Chicago, genero un estilo reconocible mas alla de sus fronteras. Tanto es asi que muchos de los arquitectos norteamericanos pertenecientes a aquel periodo han sido considerados como miembros del mismo grupo. Tal es el caso de Marion Mahony Griffin y Walter Burley Griffin, quienes ademas en su juventud fueron colaboradores de Frank Lloyd Wright junto con el que desarrollaron multiples proyectos de las Prairie Houses. Sin embargo, una vez comienzan su practica profesional de manera autonoma en el continente australiano, la distancia establecida entre America y Oceania les permite evolucionar lo aprendido de sus maestros hacia un lenguaje personal alejado de sus referencias. Aun siendo reconocibles sus origenes, la arquitectura producida para la comunidad residencial de Castlecrag, muestra unas construcciones singulares, ajenas a lo que en su pais natal se estaba produciendo, y que por tanto permite afirmar que no son unos simples discipulos de la Escuela de Chicago, sino unos arquitectos en busca de un lenguaje propio, desde la libertad de quien trabaja en la distancia. SUMMARY The architecture produced in the early 20th century by what is known as the Chicago School led to a style that can be found far beyond its borders. Such is the case that many North American architects from that period have been considered members of the same group. They include Marion Mahony Griffin and Walter Burley Griffin, who also collaborated with Frank Lloyd Wright early on, developing several Prairie House projects. However, once they embarked on their own independent professional work on the Australian continent, the distance between America and Oceania allowed them to evolve what they had learnt from their masters towards a more personal language that strayed from their references. Even with recognizable origins, the architecture produced for the residential community of Castlecrag reflects singular structures quite unlike what was being produced in their home country and which, therefore, proved they were not simply disciples of the Chicago School but rather architects in search of their own language from the freedom of working at a distance. KEY WORDS Australia, Castlecrag, Nature, Environment, Knitlock, Griffin