here in my own backyard is a group of buildings i would have traveled across the country to see yet finally i took the time to visit, having lived here for 30plus years already. i guess now that i'm considering leaving florida, i thought i should see where it is that i'm leaving.
Florida Southern College holds this country's largest collection of frank lloyd wright buildings on one site. located in lakeland florida, it's just south off i-4 between orlando and tampa. unfortunately, as i usually travel across the state and night when there is no traffic, i badly timed this trip and only arrived at the
"Child of the Sun" Visitor Center after hours. adding insult to injury, though i finally got myself to buy a digital camera, i had no idea of the battery life and so i only got six shots fired off before the camera died. i was sooo bummed. i will have to visit again (and i look forward to it) giving myself more time and a fully charged battery.
as i arrived during sunset i didn't get to see much but i can say that the campus is gorgeous. i seem to remember that wright was a short guy and so all the walkways have only about a 6-foot clearance. most if not all the buildings are currently under renovation and they need it. but even as is, strolling across campus felt like i was back in college studying architecture, only this time i was walking through one of my textbooks.
here are the few pictures i got. sorry they are not very good. i will post more on my next time there. for anyone interested in architecture who lives in florida or who plans travel to tampa or orlando, i highly recommend a few hours to drive and visit this very special place.
Linear Mode
