Dragon Rock at Mantitoga / Russel Wright
While in New York I took a trip to visit Dragon Rock, the home and studio of Russel Wright.
The house is situated on a 75-acre former quarry and logging property in the Hudson Valley town of Garrison, NY. Russel and Mary Wright purchased the property in the 1940s. At the time, the Wright-designed American Modern line was the best selling dinnerware in history. The couple spent years working on the design of the house and landscape. They named the property Manitoga "place of great spirit." Sadly, Mary passed away from cancer before the house was built.
Photo: MANITOGA / The Russel Wright Design Center
Rocks left on the site from the quarry operation were incorporated into both the site and house design.
Photo: MANITOGA / The Russel Wright Design Center
In Russel & Mary Wright: Dragon Rock at Manitoga by Jennifer Golub there is a transcript of a 1961 lecture by Russel where he goes into great detail about the planning of the house and land. He discusses the work that went into creating vistas and diverting a stream to create a waterfall and the pool. Although Russel designed the house and even drew up detailed plans, he was not a licensed architect. David Leavitt is the architect of record.
Photo: MANITOGA / The Russel Wright Design Center
Russel did not want the house to dominate the land and sited the house as such.
The swimming pool turns into a skating rink during the winter.
Photo: MANITOGA / The Russel Wright Design Center
Many years of work on the property preceeded the house construction, which began in 1956. The stairs are dated 1950.
Artifacts from the quarry years are strewn about the landscape, like the chain on this boulder.
A hook leftover from the quarry operation serves as the front door pull. This is one of many examples of that sort of thing. In the 1961 lecture mentioned above, Russel details why he chose the materials he used throughout the interior.
Russel visited Asia and was taken by the way Japanese architecture blends nature and clean lines. It was obviously something he utilized throughout Dragon Rock.
Russel in Japan c. 1953. Like so many mid-century designers and architects, he was a fan of Japan. He was also employed to advise on Japanese export for the American market. The resulting paper was Advice on the Promotion of Quality Handicraft of Japan. That was in 1956, as construction was starting on Dragon Rock. He also made subsequent trips in 1957 and 1958, so Japan was obviously on his mind.
Photo: Russel & Mary Wright: Dragon Rock at Manitoga by Jennifer Golub
Statton armchair by Wright. I saw one in the visible storage at the Brooklyn Museum. Although it was on the top shelf so I really only saw the bottom. If I hadn't just been at the house the day before, I probably wouldn't have known what it was. It's funny how that happens.
A Wright chair designed in 1932. MoMA has one.
Mantitoga has an ART + DESIGN Residency Program with installations throughout the house. I had the good fortune to visit when an exhibition of Katherine Choy ceramics and Jade Snow Wong enamels was up. It was conceived and curated by James Zemaitis, independent Design Curator and Director of Museum Relations, R & Company and Allison Cross, Executive Director, Manitoga / The Russel Wright Design Center.
Jade Snow Wong enamels, from the collection of Dung Ngo
Wright designed his own base for standard Eames shells to function better on the rock floor. Plus, everyone knows three leg chairs are the best. He also turned the Saarinen tulip base upside down--what a crazy cat.
The office and studio.
The structures weren't initially designed with green roofs but since it started happening naturally, they were retrofitted to accommodate.
More Choy ceramics.
Hans Wegner valet
Russel moved to Manitoga full-time in 1967.
Wright used a George Nelson MAA chair at his desk. As you'll see later, Nelson was also a fan of Wright.
A letter from Edward Wormley sits on his desk. Russel did a lot of entertaining at Dragon Rock. Edgar Kaufmann Jr and a long list of other import design figures spent time at Manitoga.
After Mary passed, Russel had a relationship with Joe Chapman. They were together until Wright passed away in 1976. Joe, a graphic designers, also designed a home in the Hudson Valley. Russel dedicated one of his favorite gardens at Manitoga to Joe.
Bauer ceramics
Hemlock needles impressed into the ceiling.
Birch bark door
Translucent screens leading to Anne's (Wright's daughter) room.
The Russel & Mary Wright Design Gallery
“This is a design project that I am most pleased with more than any other project throughout my career. I hope you will take joy from my home.” Russel Wright
Although I knew the importance of Russel and Mary in terms of industrial design, I can't say I was a huge fan. The circus animals and the aluminum pieces are things I look out for. There is also a lamp in particular I have been trying to get my hands on. However, after seeing the house, I'm a total fan. The connection to nature that comes through with the design of the house makes me understand those same sensibilities in their product design. The Statton chair in the context of the Japanese-influenced room puts it in a whole new light for me.
Manitoga is only an hour drive from Manhattan. The grounds are also open to the public for hiking anytime. It's pretty close to Storm King and DIA Beacon as well.