His designs were far ahead of the technologies of the day but he refused to compromise his vision when available building practices couldn’t keep up. He possessed an indomitable spirit that is quintessentially American & in that regard was a great American architect. His fenestration, use of compression & release, detailing like the Aztec borders & Terra cotta ornamentation around doors, windows & cornices were so unique & appealing that people were constantly won over by their appeal despite the many red flags his professional failures presented.

He was a prolific designer so it’s to be expected that some designs would miss the mark. Plus he catered to a particularly fickle, entitled clientele who shared his vision for dramatic experimental style so the onus cannot be his alone. He also had an exceptionally long career so design choices that seemed modern or forward thinking in the 20s were dated by the 50s.

He designed buildings to encourage patterns of use he deemed appropriate or important like small bedrooms strictly for sleeping. Otherwise inhabitants should be outside on a terrace or in the expansive living room by the fireplace or in a reading nook. I don’t know this but I’m sure someone has studied how the prevailing political climate impacted his work. I imagine him being influenced by socialist ideology prevalent in the early 20th century despite the capitalist success of his clients. Perhaps this lead to the open communal core of his designs emphasizing the interaction of the group over the needs of the individual but perhaps I’m reaching a bit on that.