Florida Southern represents the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright's work in one place. It's worth an hour's drive if you're in Orlando and sick of the rat and other theme parks.
Because of the politics surrounding Wright's legacy and Florida Southern having different interests [ such as running a University ], than the main group preserving his work, the buildings in Lakeland rarely appear in books about him. Rumor is that including Florida Southern meant limited or no access to the bulk of the archives.
But they are spectacular and wholly superior to the most well known commercial buildings of Wright's later career, the Guggenheim. The Florida Southern buildings, including the library are oriented around people not contents.
[ Note: Florida Southern University is a private church affiliated school in Lakeland. It should not be confused with University of South Florida, a massive public university, down the road in Tampa ]
Because of the politics surrounding Wright's legacy and Florida Southern having different interests [ such as running a University ], than the main group preserving his work, the buildings in Lakeland rarely appear in books about him. Rumor is that including Florida Southern meant limited or no access to the bulk of the archives.
But they are spectacular and wholly superior to the most well known commercial buildings of Wright's later career, the Guggenheim. The Florida Southern buildings, including the library are oriented around people not contents.
[ Note: Florida Southern University is a private church affiliated school in Lakeland. It should not be confused with University of South Florida, a massive public university, down the road in Tampa ]