Getting it wright

Interview with Dr. Gjoko Mutatovski by Kathy Cunningham

Images from Gjoko Muratovski

“It's very serene. You are surrounded by nature and with the sounds of the waterfall. It's like the rest of the world doesn't exist,” Gjoko Muratovski, the first Scholar in Residence at Fallingwater, describes this as his Happy Place.

Fallingwater is aptly named for the home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1930’s and built

over a waterfall in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The weekend home for the Kaufmann family

became one of the most famous 20th century buildings and revived Wright’s career.

Fallingwater was a masterpiece of Wright’s theories on organic architecture which sought to

integrate humans and nature with architecture so that each would be improved.

Wright went on to design The Guggenheim Museum in New York City. The Kaufmann home

became a museum in 1964 and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2019.

Gjoko Muratovski was the very first Scholar in Residence at Fallingwater and calls this his Happy

Place in a conversation with RECESS co-founder, Kathy Cunningham

KC Fallingwater is a pilgrimage destination for many historians and those who appreciate design.  How did you become the first Scholar-In-Residence there?

GM The Fallingwater House is a place that has captured the imagination of millions of people, and especially of designers and architects. This was a place that I always wanted to visit, so when this opportunity was presented to me by the Fallingwater Institute, I was absolutely delighted.
Once a private residence, Fallingwater is now a museum and an institute. Over the past few years, the institute launched an Artist-in-Residence and Scholar-in-Residence program. I applied to join this program and I was very fortunate to be selected as the very first Scholar-in-Residence here.

KC Tell us about your experiences in every room?

GM Fallingwater has surprisingly many rooms – various common areas, private rooms, and guest rooms. In fact, each member of the Kaufmann family had its own room, and each room offers a slightly different experience. What is interesting is that even though the house was designed so that everyone could have their own room, each of the family rooms are visually connected via the balconies and the terraces. At any time, each person could have their own personal space, while never completely being disconnected from the others. People sitting on different balconies on different levels of the house, can still very easily see each other and talk to each other. And then again, the common areas were designed with entertaining guests in mind, and as such, they are very warm, open and welcoming.

KC Who else has had the opportunity to experience the residential programme at Fallingwater?

GM Officially, I was the first Scholar-in-Residence. However, unofficially, in the past, the Kaufmann’s often hosted notable artists, architects and scholars in their house. For example, some of their guests included Frida Kahlo, Albert Einstein, and Walter Gropius – the founder of Bauhaus. The residency program was in a way inspired by the type of guests that the Kaufmann’s used to host here. By the way, you might be interested to know that the following Scholar-in-Residence after me was Dalai Lama’s personal physician.

KC Why is Fallingwater so significant to many?

GM This is a truly unique work of architecture that was designed to sit in harmony with nature. There is nothing else like this in the world. That is why Fallingwater now is also recognized as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.

KC What is your one or two lasting memories from your time at Fallingwater?

GM There is an incredible sense of serenity on the estate. I always enjoyed taking a walk through the forest towards the house, experiencing how the house gently unfolds itself between the trees. The color of the house was chosen specifically to match the color of the leaves in the Fall. This was meant to make the house blend in with the forest. And overall, there is almost a sense of being on a pilgrimage when going to the house. This manner of discovering the house is something that will always remain in my memory.

KC Did you have one space that you gravitated to more than others? Why?

GM I would quite often like to go down the inner stairs to the edge of the waterfall. In the center of the house, there is a special shaft that takes you down to a small deck that sits on top of the waterfall. This, in my view, is the most beautiful space in the house. On a warm summer day, this is also the most refreshing space to be. I would often come here to sit with my feet dipped in the cool stream and read a book. Tourists visiting the house are not really allowed to go there, but since I could have the house just to myself, I did have this rare opportunity to enjoy this space.

KC Where was your Happy Place at Fallingwater?

GM I would say the entire Fallingwater House was my Happy Place. I thoroughly enjoyed every inch of this house. Frank Lloyd Wright truly created a masterpiece.

KC What projects were you working on at Fallingwater?

GM I worked on quite a few things. I studied the house itself, the Kaufmann family, and the life and work of Frank Lloyd Wright. I was editing a design book collection of seven volumes. And I was finishing a report on a major design and architecture project that I worked on with my students. It was about a furniture collection that we designed and exhibited in New York as a part of the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF). I had a lot of work to do, but the setting was just so inspiring and relaxing that working there was very enjoyable.

KC Have you returned to Fallingwater since your residence?

GM Yes, many times. After the residency, I continued working with Fallingwater on other things as well. For example, the Director of Fallingwater invited me to develop a branding study for Fallingwater, which I developed in the form of a book. And following this, I have also sent a group of my students to do a residency of their own. As a part of their residency, they designed and produced furniture pieces that were inspired by the house.

KC Why should people visit Fallingwater?

GM People often say that visiting this place changes the way they view the world. I tend to agree. There is something very special about this place. This is more than a house; it is a sanctuary. Also, unlike most works of architecture, this house looks much better in person than it does in photos. As a destination, this is certainly a visit worth of a pilgrimage.

Frank Lloyd Wright believed that, “the mission of an architect is to help people understand how to make life more beautiful, the world a better one for living in and to give reason, rhyme and meaning to life.”

Dr. Gjoko Muratovski is the previous Director of the Myron E. Ullman Jr. School of Design at the University of Cincinnati who holds a PhD in Design Research and Corporate Communications Strategies. He is currently living in Australia with his family. He holds numerous appointments such as a Member of the Forbes Councils, Consultant with the Stanford Institute for Innovation in Developing Economies, and as a Scientific Expert with the Italian Government.