Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater is a masterpiece of modern architecture. This house, built over a waterfall, redefined how buildings interact with the natural landscape.
This quiz looks at the construction details, the Kaufmann family who commissioned it, and the materials used to build those famous cantilevered terraces.
Once you finish, explore other famous architects, read about historical iconic structures, or check our quizzes on UNESCO heritage sites.
In which U.S. state is the architectural landmark known as Fallingwater located?
North Carolina
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
Illinois
Illinois
Arizona
Arizona
For which family did Frank Lloyd Wright design Fallingwater as a weekend retreat?
The Rockefeller family
The Rockefeller family
The Carnegie family
The Carnegie family
The Ford family
The Ford family
The Kaufmann family
The Kaufmann family
Fallingwater is famously constructed directly over which natural feature?
A coastal cliff
A coastal cliff
A dense forest hilltop
A dense forest hilltop
A waterfall
A waterfall
A desert plateau
A desert plateau
What is the term for the design philosophy championed by Frank Lloyd Wright that emphasizes harmony between human habitation and the natural world?
Organic architecture
Organic architecture
Neoclassical revival
Neoclassical revival
Minimalist modernism
Minimalist modernism
Brutalist design
Brutalist design
In which decade was construction on the main house of Fallingwater completed?
1940s
1940s
1920s
1920s
1950s
1950s
1930s
1930s
What material was primarily used to create the iconic cantilevered terraces of Fallingwater?
Steel beams
Steel beams
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete
Timber frame
Timber frame
Solid brick masonry
Solid brick masonry
What material was quarried on the site and used to anchor the house to the natural rock ledges?
Local sandstone
Local sandstone
Prefabricated steel panels
Prefabricated steel panels
Concrete blocks
Concrete blocks
Italian marble
Italian marble
In what year was Fallingwater inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
2017
2017
2013
2013
2015
2015
2019
2019
Edgar Kaufmann Sr. was the owner of which prominent business in Pittsburgh?
Automobile manufacturing
Automobile manufacturing
Department store
Department store
Textile production
Textile production
Coal mining
Coal mining
What is the name of the stream upon which Fallingwater was built?
Bull Run
Bull Run
Fox Run
Fox Run
Deer Run
Deer Run
Bear Run
Bear Run
Which of the following was a key goal of Wright’s decision to place the house directly over the stream rather than facing it?
To utilize the waterfall’s hydroelectric power
To utilize the waterfall’s hydroelectric power
To comply with local zoning laws
To comply with local zoning laws
To allow the residents to live with the waterfall
To allow the residents to live with the waterfall
To satisfy the client’s fear of heights
To satisfy the client’s fear of heights
What was the first name of Edgar Kaufmann Sr.’s wife, who was deeply involved in the design process of the home?
Margaret
Margaret
Liliane
Liliane
Eleanor
Eleanor
Edith
Edith
Which prominent architectural feature is the most recognizable element of Fallingwater’s exterior?
A sunken living room
A sunken living room
A spiral staircase
A spiral staircase
A skylight over the fireplace
A skylight over the fireplace
A cantilevered balcony
A cantilevered balcony
Which organization currently maintains and manages Fallingwater as a public museum?
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
The National Park Service
The National Park Service
The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
The Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution
What is the name of the specific shade of reddish-brown paint favored by Frank Lloyd Wright and used on the steel window frames at Fallingwater?
Cherokee Red
Cherokee Red
Wright Blue
Wright Blue
Prairie Ochre
Prairie Ochre
Desert Sage
Desert Sage
What cultural aesthetic heavily influenced Wright’s spatial planning and open floor plans at Fallingwater?
Japanese architecture
Japanese architecture
Art Deco
Art Deco
Gothic Revival
Gothic Revival
Roman architecture
Roman architecture
What material did Wright embed into the concrete near the curved eaves of Fallingwater to catch roof water and prevent staining?
A steel flashing
A steel flashing
An asphalt membrane
An asphalt membrane
A copper gutter
A copper gutter
A lead strip
A lead strip
In what year was the property gifted to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy?
1971
1971
1963
1963
1967
1967
1959
1959
Constructed in 1939, what primary additional building was constructed uphill from the main residence to accommodate visitors?
A greenhouse
A greenhouse
A guest house
A guest house
A detached stable
A detached stable
A boathouse
A boathouse
Wright’s innovative corner windows at Fallingwater were designed without corner posts to create an uninterrupted view, emphasizing his desire to connect the interior with what?
The local community
The local community
Industrial steel elements
Industrial steel elements
The surrounding nature
The surrounding nature
Traditional European design
Traditional European design
During the structural restoration of the 1990s and 2000s, what technique was used to reinforce the failing cantilevered terraces?
Hidden brick columns
Hidden brick columns
Suspension cables
Suspension cables
Steel I-beams
Steel I-beams
Post-tensioned concrete
Post-tensioned concrete
In what year were the initial design sketches and blueprints for Fallingwater produced?
1937
1937
1934
1934
1936
1936
1935
1935
You can do better
Not bad
Great!
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