Art Glass Reinforces Clean and Simple Architecture
Almost 40 years after the death of Frank Lloyd Wright, the innovative Prairie style architecture he pioneered still drives the designs of homes around the country. In Rochester, NY, at the 6,500-square-foot home of John and Mary Ann Lambertsen, clean, simple architectural lines, bold contemporary interiors featuring open floor plans and a deep respect for the natural, wooded surroundings have taken on a decidedly '90s look and feel. This redefinition of style is especially evident in the 33 leaded glass panels designed by Nancy Gong of Gong Glass Works.
Flanking the southeast corner of the home, the work entitled "Lyrical Illusions" uses a combination of geometric lines and softly abstracted, natural images to create a visual mural that embraces and engages the moving light of each passing day. The strong perpendicular lines and symmetrical design of the stained glass windows of the Wright design are still present in this decidedly contemporary reincarnation by Nancy Gong. The Lambertsens chose to frame their Marvin Windows with a custom wood trim that repeats the perpendicular elements found in the Gong design, inviting the viewer to draw comparisons to Wright's distinctive Prairie style.
These simple lines and understated warmth of the glass panel colors -- echoing the palette of foamy sea water, spiraling rain and steely frost -- create a thin veil of privacy while, nevertheless, inviting the outside in and the inside out. Elements of the Gong design also are reflected in the choice of color and style of designer furniture found in the Lambertsen home.
The design of each of the 33 panels is unique, yet together they create a rhythmical sense of order that cascades throughout the house. "We selected mouthblown sheet glass for its ability to evoke a sense of nature and largely colorless glass in a range of textures to accommodate the need for more or less privacy from room to room. Color was used sparingly to provide the greatest interior flexibility and widest appeal," noted Nancy Gong. "Our glass art design has a light, airy feel that creates a psychological sense of separation and connection at the same time."
Although the Lambertsens always intended the design of their house to include glass, the project was not initiated for a year after occupancy. Gong was called initially during the architectural phase to provide information about installation and implementation of any glass art design, weight load considerations and manufacturer's warranty on insulated glass. Marvin Windows products were specified in the plan because of their ability to properly accommodate installation of glass art panels without compromising the look or functionality of the original window products.
At the center of the design is the home's front entry doors. To formalize the entry and offer greater privacy, Gong used a more detailed design which is achieved with custom beveled glass. The one-inch beveled accents are fabricated from 3Ú8-inch glass to maximize the prismatic effect and then chipped in the center field for added visual texture and interest.
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