Art History Response to Stimulus ‘Patronage’
The S.C. Johnson Wax Headquarters 1936-1950, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
The Headquarters for the domestic cleaning and care product manufacturers, S.C. Johnson are based in Wisconsin, USA. In Wright’s typical prairie style, the building reflects the surrounding landscape whilst incorporating radical structures for the time influenced by his engineering background, these include: the columns in the Great Work Room, each able to hold a mass of 12 tonnes; windows and skylights made of Pyrex tubing; and the structure of the research tower, utilising the cantilever principle, allowing maximum lighting on all floors and a brilliant environment for experimentation.
These design choices are all direct reflections of the building’s patronage. Wright's relationship as a designer for a manufacturing company mirrors the relationship between S.C. Johnson and their customers, the need for their products to be revolutionary, resulting in maximum comfort for clients. A commercial patronage, S.C Johnson display their power and wealth through the modern design and construction of the buildings. The low ceilinged entrance creates greater appreciation for the natural lighting and vast height of the Great Work Room; pushing past the traditional idea of separate offices or stalls, office workers sit in the large communal space with small trees and plants between desks, resulting in higher employee satisfaction and higher quality work. This format was incredibly ahead of its time for a building designed in the 1930s; the ethos that led the design of the S.C Johnson Wax Headquarters has largely resulted in their worldwide success today.
