Pub. 1 2021 Issue 1

14 AIA IDAHO ARCHITECTURE | 2020-21 | www.aiaidaho.com A Reminder of the Impact of Architecture BY KRISJAN HINER “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 a reason, rhyme and meaning to life.” — Frank Lloyd Wright, 1957 I f you’ve never had the opportunity to visit a Frank Lloyd Wright building, I hope you have the chance sometime soon. Maybe it’s the mystique, the well-known and documented architectural significance or the hype, but visiting a Frank Lloyd Wright building is a near- divine experience. I was fortunate enough to recently visit the Archie Teater Studio, also known as Teater’s Knoll, Idaho’s only Frank Lloyd Wright building, in Bliss, Idaho. Not only did I visit the site, but the property owner, Henry Whiting, gave me a private tour. During our two-hour visit, we talked about architecture, music, furniture, art and life. To my surprise, our conversation was much more about life, family and relationships than architecture. Of course, we talked about architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright, design, furniture, and renovating and maintaining Teater’s Knoll. But after our conversation, as I was driving away, all I could think of were the people Henry talked about. The countless amazing- sounding people in Henry’s life that he would never have met if not for Teater’s Knoll. The people who were already in his life were brought closer together because of Teater’s Knoll. The experiences he had both at Teater’s Knoll and other Frank Lloyd Wright sites. How architecture literally shaped his life. The way that house and numerous other Frank Lloyd Wright buildings continue to bring people together. Isn’t that what good design is supposed to do? Bring people together? Finding the property isn’t exactly easy if you don’t know what you’re looking for. It’s outside of Bliss’s tiny town, Idaho, about 90 minutes east of Boise. The narrow winding road high above the Snake River is sprinkled with ranches amid the high desert. Teater’s Knoll is well-concealed behind a thicket of vegetation and a brown-painted wood wall and gate. The only signifying mark of the property is a small, understated teal-green-lettered sign with the words “Teaters Knoll.” Even using Google Maps, I sped past the property once, doubled back and found the small pull-out in front of the gate. As soon as I arrived, the gate opened and a friendly black dog ran out to greet me. Standing by the gate was my new friend Henry. We walked inside and Henry pulled the gate closed. As we walked up the drive toward the front of the house, we exchanged pleasantries while I looked at the stunning home I’ve heard so much about. The house lies only 30 feet or so, from the road, but driving by, you would never know what was below. The first thing I noticed about the home was the color, texture, and rhythm of the Oakley stone swaddling the home. The