Issue 144 April 10th 2019

The Headlines

Lloyd Wright's Newman House Lists For $13.5 Million

A Pacific Palisades, California, home designed by Lloyd Wright—the son of iconic architect Frank Lloyd Wright—hit the market last week for $13.5 million.

Lloyd Wright designed the home in 1950 for nine-time Oscar-winning composer Alfred Newman, nicknaming the house the “Newman Residence,” said listing agent Gary Gold of Hilton & Hyland, an affiliate of Christie’s. And Newman, who died in 1970, isn’t the only award-winning Hollywood star to reside in the Los Angeles County home—actress Diane Keaton purchased the home in 2007 for $9.1 million, according to listing records, and restored the interior. Ms. Keaton sold the mid-century home in 2010 to a businessman and investor who purchased the Newman Residence under an LLC for $10.75 million, according to PropertyShark records.

The modern interior of the 4,386-square-foot five-bedroom features a mix of exposed concrete floors, done during Ms. Keaton’s renovations, and brick walls. The upstairs loft houses the master suite, while the remaining four bedrooms can be found downstairs. Sliding glass doors lead out to the yard, which has a swimming pool, hot tub and an outdoor fireplace, added by Ms. Keaton in a Wright-esque style, Mr. Gold said. An outdoor fire oven and dining area round out the backyard amenities.

Lloyd, who died in 1978, was Frank Lloyd Wright’s eldest son. Several of his most notable architectural works can be found in Southern California, including the John Sowden House and the Wayfarers Chapel. See photos of the Newman home here.

Lindholm Service Station Represents A Milestone In American Gas-Station Design

The MINNPOST recently featured a short piece on the Wright-designed R.W. Lindholm Service Station in Cloquet, Minnesota (1958). Ray W. Lindholm was the president of Lindholm Oil, Inc., a distributor of petroleum headquartered in Cloquet. The company owned several gas stations in Minnesota. Wright was first commissioned to design and build the Lindholm residence, called "Mantyla," just outside of Cloquet, in 1952.

In 1956, Lindholm commissioned Wright again to construct a new service station on the corner of Highway 33 and Cloquet Avenue. Wright refined his Broadacre City service station design and construction of the new building began April 27, 1958. The final cost was $20,000, with some reports stating a higher cost of $75,000.

Wright’s design influenced the development of gas station architecture in the United States. The building prominently features a cantilevered copper canopy that extends approximately thirty-two feet. It is primarily made of concrete, glass, and steel. Including the thin pylon sign, which once read “Lindholm” in the lower portion, the building rises sixty-two feet high. In the front, the outer cement block walls are stacked, creating a step-effect. Each group of cement blocks is recessed slightly from the ground level upwards. Cypress wood, a favorite material of Wright’s, is used throughout the interior. The Lindholm Service Station’s significance as a Wright structure helped to secure the building a place on the National Register of Historic Places in September in 1985. Read more here.

Griffin's Ricker House Sold To Dedicated New Owners

Since its construction in 1912, the Ricker House has been an architectural staple of Grinnell, Iowa. The brick, Prairie School home was designed and built by Chicago-based architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin. Several owners enjoyed the home before it ended up in the ownership of Grinnell College in 2000. During its years with the College, the residence was used as temporary guest house for visitors. In 2017, however, the College decided to sell the house, and it now belongs to a private owner. Since buying the Ricker House, Ryan Ferguson and his family have made the historic house into their home. “My wife Carrie and I have a background in fixing up houses, so the projects and restoration of an older home didn’t scare us away,” he said.

The new owners value “undecorating," which has become a trend in interior design within the last decade which refers to the practice of restoring a historical home to its original glory instead remodeling it to fit modern styles and standards. Above all, the Fergusons said they understand, cherish and praise the house’s historical significance.

“We’re continuing on that trend and slowly returning things more to what they would have been originally. The art glass windows require the most work currently but they’re arguably the best asset of the house, along with the tiled exterior mosaics. All of the above designed by the talented Marion Mahony,” Ferguson said. Read more.

Creating A Definition: How "Mid-Century Modern" Architecture Came To Be

Les Tincknell, F.A.I.A. offers an article in the Midland Daily News seeking to help define what the term "Mid-Century Modern" has come to mean. Its beginning had seeds around 1900 with Frank Lloyd Wright and the Arts and Crafts Movement, which looked toward simpler forms and structure. But "Mid-Century Modern" has typically been associated in Design history during a period 20 years on either side of the year 1950. Read more of Tincknell's article here.

Darwin Martin House Names New President And Board Members

Kevin Malchoff, who led the Buffalo-based Rich Products company's business in North America and later its International Business Group, has been named president of the Darwin Martin House Complex. Malchoff succeeds Keith Solzenburg, who became president in 2014. “I am awed and inspired by the visionaries who worked so hard and contributed so much to bring this masterpiece of Frank Lloyd Wright’s back to its original glory," Malchoff said in a statement.

Joining the board are Michele Agosto, supervisor of Curriculum in Art at Buffalo Public Schools; Brian Connolly, vice president of innovation and business development at The Buffalo News; and Mark Mistretta, Western District director of New York State Parks. More here.

Kish College Offers Trip To See Laurent House

The community education department at Kishwaukee College will offer a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Laurent House in Rockford, IL from noon to 4 pm on April 26.

The Laurent House is the only home Wright built for a client with a physical disability. He not only designed the home, but also developed an enduring relationship with the Laurent family.

The cost of the tour is $45 and includes transportation, guided tour, and snacks. The van will depart from Kishwaukee College at noon and return at 4 p.m. More information here.

Taliesin West Through The Eyes Of The Graphic Design Fellow

For nearly a decade, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation has invited a graphic designer to work full time on the Marketing and Communication team. The graphic design fellow is responsible for the visual identity of the Foundation, including designing the Frank Lloyd Wright Quarterly magazine. 2018-2019 graphic design fellow, Meagan Vanderhill, is sharing some of her favorite details she’s noticed at Taliesin West. Read her insights here.

Marc Jacobs Pays $9M For Wright's Hoffman House

Fashion designer Marc Jacobs, who married Charly Defrancesco this past weekend, has purchased The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Max Hoffman House in Rye, NY, for $9.17 million. The 6,000-square-foot home will be the newlyweds’ main residence, sources say. Read more here.

Download The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust's New App

The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust announces that they have a new app available to iPhone and Android users! Access an image gallery, reserve or purchase tours and programs, receive news and more, all on your phone. Find it by searching “Frank Lloyd Wright Trust” in your app store on your phone and get exploring! Get more info on the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust here.

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