Usonia

Article summary

Usonia ( ) is a mid-20th-century architectural style and ideal for the United States promoted by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The architectural style predominantly refers to a class of small, single-story dwellings designed by Wright without a garage or much storage. They are often L- or T-shaped, characterized by native materials; flat roofs and large cantilevered overhangs for passive solar heating and natural cooling; natural lighting with clerestory windows; and radiant-floor heating. Wright used the term 'Usonia' to refer to the United States in general (in preference over America), and more specifically to his vision for the landscape of the country, including the planning of cities and the architecture of buildings. Wright proposed the use of the adjective Usonian, coined by a Scottish writer in the early 20th century. Wright regarded the term "United States" as primarily referring to a political union, and he sought to define an 'American way of life' beyond the Constitutional structure that extended beyond constitutional and governmental forms. Wright associated 'Usonia' with Middle-class democratic societies opposed to European Aristocracy, he states in his 1957 work 'A Testament'.

Key claims

1. date of birth: 1865 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
2. publication date: 1927 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the date of birth is "1865". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. The record states that the publication date is "1927". What evidence would count against this claim?
4. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
5. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1375638559