Way to go, toddm, you got me on a spelling error!

The majority of the other comments on your last post are based on your personal opinions, interpretations,and perceptions , and most have no bearing on the topic of this thread, which I'll remind you again, is
"The Lifespan of A SIP Home" , case in point, "aircraft composite work done during WWII........................."?? What does that have to do with anything?

Sipper: "Yep, the world is catching up to concepts developed by the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory in the early 1930's, then utilized by, according to many, "the greatest American architect of all times", Frank Lloyd Wright, for hundreds of his affordable Usonion homes in the late 1930's and 1940's, with the major breakthrough by famed architect, Alden B. Dow
(an FL W protege) who developed the first "foam core panel" in 1952.

It's interesting to note that while many want to hold up European building techniques, and products, as superior to those in this country, other countries are adopting technologies that have been developed in the U.S."

Actually I caught you in a sales pitch, Sipper, during which you were mostly talking out of your a--

Here is my source for Alden Dow spending an entire summer with FLW http://www.abdow.org/t14-alden-b-dow.aspx

Now it's your turn.

From "Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian Houses" by John Sergeant

"These board and batten walls... formed both the interior and exterior finish. The need for plastering and decoration was thus removed at a stroke."

And, today, kiss that building permit goodbye, too.

ummmm, toddm, so what's your point?

FLW's 3" thick "blocks" wouldn't get by too many U.S. building jurisdictions these days either, would they? Not many of us drive model T''s, fly "jennies", make films with hand cranked cameras, or, or,..........., . But, does that mean that it's a "STRETCH" to conclude that the works of those early pioneers contributed to the current technological advances in these areas? Of course it isn't, and I don't understand why the same thought process would not be relevant to the roles that FLW and AB Dow played in the development , and evolution of SIPs.

In regard to your nitpicking my use of the term "protege" to describe AB Dow's relationship with FLW, I certainly didn't invent that concept. Just Yahoo, or Google, the subjects' names, along with the word "protege", and you'll find a number of such references from, what appear to me to be some pretty credible sources.

Maybe these two gentlemen were able to forge this mentor/protege relationship within a shorter time frame, than is generally associated with this concept. Here's a quote from the very website that you posted to support your argument "It was here that Alden met his kindred spirit, Frank Lloyd Wright. who shared his interest in nature...in the relationship of STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS and MATERIALS to a design...and the effect of a building as an environment upon those living in it." ............ummm, sounds like some kind of a meaningful relationship was developed here, whatever you want to call it.

BTW, to Daniel52 and Como, or Stray Dog, the instigator of this thread: Don't mind us, if you have any additional questions, or comments concerning the topic of the thread "Expected Lifespan of A SIP Home" I'm sure that you'll get some prompt, and on target, responses.

Ask for citations, Sipper, and you give us verbal diarrhea. One credible source tracing SIPs to FLW....

Technology aside, the genius in the Usonian designs is the sense of space Wright was able to create in houses as small as 1,100 square feet. If you are wondering what will succeed the McMansion, the Usonian portfolio could not be more relevant. Diane Maddex's "Wright-Sized Houses" is a good introduction. Better yet, a smattering of homes around the country allow public access as overnight rental or Wright tour stop. William Allin Storrer's "Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright; A Complete Catalog" is the definitive list.
To see Wright reduced to selling panels...