Exterior and Grounds

2000 Photos
Graycliff: Exterior and Grounds

The house is divided into three sections. The two ends are constructed of Tichenor limestone quarried on the property. The third middle section houses the first floor living room and the second floor bedrooms. Wright referred to this center section as a center "bridge."

Instead of Tichenor limestone, the bridge is supported by steel piers and beams. The first floor of the center bridge was designed with a band of glass doors on both sides. In effect, the first floor of the center of the house became transparent, and also visually allowed nature into the house. Wright would develop this idea years later when he designed Fallingwater.

Note
The photographs on this page were taken in August 2000. A limited amount of renovation had taken place by this time. The bulk of the changes are scheduled for 2001. Thus, some of these photos will be out of date after 2000 ends, but hopefully of some long-range interest to viewers. Of more lasting value is the information found in the captions which was gathered primarily in an interview with Conservancy Vice-President Patrick Mahoney.

Click on photos for larger size and more information

The original driveway piers.

The first floor of the center bridge is no longer transparent because the Piarist priests blocked off the front of the house with a chapel which will be removed during renovation in 2001.

Left front (south) of house: Mr. Martin's sleeping porch

Sunken evergreen garden.
First floor: family sun porch and fern room.
Second floor: Mr. Martin's sleeping porch.

Front entry porte-cochere with geometric fountain emptying into naturalistic pool.

Close-up of porte-cochere with Tichenor limestone piers supporting a hipped roof.

Close-up of fountain

Fountain and pool

Front terrace was turned into a chapel by the Piarist priests. See Frank Lloyd Wright's Last Visit To Graycliff, by architectural historian John H. Conlin.

The multi-light exterior chapel walls were originally the living room walls

Right front (northeast) of house. First floor: Tichenor limestone; second floor: sienna colored stucco.

Close up of front right. Servants work area on first floor; two servants' bedrooms on second floor.

Close-up of Tichenor limestone and casement windows which Wright almost always used.

The garden wall runs between the garage and the house on the north side of the property.
See the Conservancy Garden Wall pages

On the right side of garden wall is the first floor garage (right side car entrance not shown) and second floor apartments for chauffeur and gardener.

The boiler house is between the garage and the house on the north side of the property. See the Conservancy Boiler House pages
The roof is probably unique: trapezoidal cedar shake shingles braided to form haxagons.

Rear of the house

Rear center. The lawn is part of the esplanade leading to the edge of the cliff and the stair tower.

Close-up of rear center entrance and the fern and sun rooms to the right.

Chimney and rear second floor balcony for Mrs. Martin's and guest's bedrooms.

View of Lake Erie from the balcony.

View of the esplanade and Lake Erie from the balcony.

Fern room.

Mr. Martin's second floor bedroom and first floor sun room next to the sunken evergreen garden.

Graycliff - Table of Contents

Sunken evergreen garden wall and south side of the house.

The top of the stair tower.

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The original driveway piers.	The first floor of the center bridge is no longer transparent because the Piarist priests blocked off the front of the house with a chapel which will be removed during renovation in 2001.	Left front (south) of house: Mr. Martin's sleeping porch	Sunken evergreen garden. First floor: family sun porch and fern room. Second floor: Mr. Martin's sleeping porch.

Front entry porte-cochere with geometric fountain emptying into naturalistic pool.	Close-up of porte-cochere with Tichenor limestone piers supporting a hipped roof.	Close-up of fountain	Fountain and pool

Front terrace was turned into a chapel by the Piarist priests. See Frank Lloyd Wright's Last Visit To Graycliff, by architectural historian John H. Conlin.	The multi-light exterior chapel walls were originally the living room walls	Right front (northeast) of house. First floor: Tichenor limestone; second floor: sienna colored stucco.	Close up of front right. Servants work area on first floor; two servants' bedrooms on second floor.

Close-up of Tichenor limestone and casement windows which Wright almost always used.	The garden wall runs between the garage and the house on the north side of the property. See the Conservancy Garden Wall pages	On the right side of garden wall is the first floor garage (right side car entrance not shown) and second floor apartments for chauffeur and gardener.	The boiler house is between the garage and the house on the north side of the property. See the Conservancy Boiler House pages The roof is probably unique: trapezoidal cedar shake shingles braided to form haxagons.

Rear of the house	Rear center. The lawn is part of the esplanade leading to the edge of the cliff and the stair tower.	Close-up of rear center entrance and the fern and sun rooms to the right.	Chimney and rear second floor balcony for Mrs. Martin's and guest's bedrooms.

View of Lake Erie from the balcony.	View of the esplanade and Lake Erie from the balcony.	Fern room.	Mr. Martin's second floor bedroom and first floor sun room next to the sunken evergreen garden.
		Graycliff - Table of Contents
Sunken evergreen garden wall and south side of the house.	The top of the stair tower.