Issue May 29th 2024 May 29th 2024

The Headlines

11 Frank Lloyd Wright Airbnb And Vrbo Properties You Can Rent For Your Next Vacation

Ever dreamed of staying in a Frank Lloyd Wright Airbnb, Vrbo, or other rental property? Lucky for you, there are plenty. Of the 532 buildings designed and built by Wright, a number have been demolished, others have been preserved and opened to the public, and even more are still in the hands of private owners. While Wright’s designs pop up on the market fairly often, his homes are notoriously expensive to maintain and can be unofficial tourist attractions.

If you’re not ready to make that investment, why not book a short-term stay in a Frank Lloyd Wright home for a weekend to test the waters? A number of his homes are on the rental market, whether for events or getaways. Here, AD rounded up eleven Frank Lloyd Wright homes—from the grand and sweeping homes to the cozy and intimate spaces—that are available to rent right now, including the Still Bend / Schwartz House, in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, and the The Eppstein House, in Galesburg, Michigan.

Celebrating Architect George W. Maher

The year 2024 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of architect George W. Maher. Often overshadowed by his contemporary and long-time friend, Frank Lloyd Wright, Maher produced an impressive body of work, and many of his Illinois buildings still stand in Chicago, Kenilworth, Oak Park, and elsewhere.

Architectural historian H. Allen Brooks, writing in his 1972 book, The Prairie School, Frank Lloyd Wright and His Midwest Contemporaries” said of Maher: “His influence on the Midwest was profound and prolonged and, in its time, was certainly as great as was Frank Lloyd Wright’s. Compared with the conventional architecture of the day, his work showed considerable freedom and originality, and his interiors were notable for their open and flowing space.”

George Washington Maher was born in Mill Creek, West Virginia on Christmas Day, 1864. The family later relocated to New Albany, Indiana, but by the time Maher was 18, he had struck out on his own, finding work as a draftsman in the office of Chicago architects Augustus Bauer and Henry W. Hill. In 1887, he accepted a position with architect Joseph Lyman Silsbee, where he worked beside Frank Lloyd Wright and George Grant Elmslie. In less than two years, he opened his own independent practice.

Maher’s early years focused on residences and small apartment buildings both in Chicago and nearby suburbs. On the south side, he designed a shingled, Colonial Revival-style house for his parents, plus several houses in response to the building boom leading up to the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. A survival from the 1890s is the J. J. Dau house at 4807 S. Greenwood Avenue. The bright-red brick house features a massive limestone porch sheltering an arched entryway, echoing the center dormer above.

In the Dau house, we see an early use of Maher’s signature design element which he referred to as his “motif rhythm theory.” Maher would select an indigenous plant and/or a geometric shape which would then be used as a unifying motif for the various elements of the composition. For the Dau house, the motif comprises a round shield and berry laden leaves. In other houses he incorporated thistles, poppies, and lilies, paired with squares, circles, and stars.

The motif was often represented in leaded glass windows, mosaic tile fireplace surrounds, textiles, and furniture produced by collaborators including Louis Millet, Giannini and Hilgart, Tiffany Studios, and Willy Lau. A number of these items, from demolished or remodeled houses, are now found in major museums across the country.

In 1893, Maher married Elizabeth Brooks, and the couple moved into a picturesque home he designed at 424 Warwick in Kenilworth. Set beneath a steeply pitched roof, the house has been described as a “piquant blend of Victorian, Chinese, Swiss Chalet, Gothic, and Arts and Crafts styles.” In the design of the house, Maher used the diamond pattern as his motif for roof shingles, windows, and interior details.

Maher called Kenilworth home for the remainder of his life, and ultimately designed nearly 40 buildings for the North Shore community, the largest concentration of his work anywhere. Significant examples of his architectural development include the Maynard A. Cheney house (322 Woodstock, built 1900) emphasizing the broad horizontal massing and hipped roof with wide eaves made popular by Prairie School architects. The Francis Lackner House (521 Roslyn, built 1905) demonstrates Maher’s ability in working with more picturesque styles, the house displaying dramatic gables and exposed roof beams.

Maher’s most important design in Kenilworth was the Kenilworth Assembly Hall at 410 Kenilworth Avenue, completed in 1907 and expanded by him in 1913-1914. The design of the clubhouse was classic Prairie School, with the low-slung building hugging the ground, and the entrance literally embracing nature with its pergola built around an existing elm tree. The design motif incorporated consists of a stylized flower on a long stem, set within a diamond. It was extensively restored in the early 2000s.

Maher contributed designs for other elements of Kenilworth’s residential plan. At the west end of Kenilworth Avenue, he designed a large fountain with a central stone urn, containing a bronze fish which spouts water. It provided a welcoming element to the community, situated between the train station and the Assembly Hall. (To the other side is the Village Hall/Historical Society designed later by his son Philip). Elsewhere in the community, Maher designed charming bridges, urns, and pylons.

Chicago boasts a considerable number of Maher houses. A particularly fine collection of five structures can be found on the 700 and 800 blocks of West Hutchinson Street, and form part of the Hutchinson Street Historic District. The earliest of the five is the John C. Scales house at 840 W. Hutchinson, designed in 1894. The rusticated stone walls pay tribute to H. H. Richardson and Maher’s previous employer, Silsbee. By contrast, the William H. Lake house at 826 W. Hutchinson, designed exactly a decade later, shows Maher’s evolution with its strong horizontal lines and simple massing set beneath overhanging low hipped roofs.

Maher’s best-known work in the Chicago area is Pleasant Home, designed in 1897 for John Farson, at the intersection of Pleasant Street and Home Avenue in Oak Park, and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1996. Maher considered this an important commission and a “type for an American style” that he was creating. The design is marked with strong symmetry and horizontality set amidst a raised garden behind an ornamental wrought iron fence. The motif rhythm theory incorporates the American honeysuckle, the lion’s head, and the shield, seen in the leaded glass windows, mosaics, woodwork, light fixtures, and furniture. The house is owned and operated by the Park District of Oak Park and is open for tours.

Maher designed a sizable number of buildings outside the Chicagoland area. The largest concentration can be found in Wausau, Wisconsin, where he constructed six homes and renovated two others. The most significant is the home commissioned by Hiram and Irene Stewart, completed in 1906. The flanged segmental arch and tulip motif unify the design of the large home, which still contains its original leaded glass windows, chandeliers, wall sconces, fireplace mosaic, and woodwork. A tapestry on the wall is believed to have been a gift from Maher to the Stewarts. The home is operated as the Stewart Inn Boutique Hotel, the only Maher-designed house in the country available for an overnight stay.

Mental health challenges marked his final years, a recurrence of a nervous condition first experienced in the early 1890s. Extended stays at institutions did little to relieve his symptoms, and he died at his summer home in Douglas, Michigan on September 12, 1926, the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was just 61 years old. Philip Maher continued the practice, designing such prominent buildings as the Woman’s Athletic Club at 626 N. Michigan Avenue and the two Art Deco co-op buildings at 1260 and 1301 N. Astor Street.

On Sunday, June 9, 2024, Glessner House will hold its annual gala, “Celebrating Architect George W. Maher” at the Maher-designed Kenilworth Assembly Hall. The event will include brief remarks on the restoration of the hall, and an opportunity to visit the “Centennial Homes” exhibit at the Kenilworth Historical Society across the street. For more information and to purchase tickets, go here.

Explore Architectural Masterpieces At Frank Lloyd Wright Houses In Michigan

From the serene shores of Lake Michigan to the vibrant cityscapes of Grand Rapids, Illinois and even a few places in the Upper Peninsula, Michiganders can discover the timeless allure of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural masterpieces.

Wright designed over 1,000 structures in 70 years and can be seen in 38 states, including nearly three dozen sites around the Great Lakes State. Some of these homes date back to the late 19th Century and some are available for public tours.

A sampling of these iconic homes include the Meyer May House in Grand Rapids, the Melvyn Maxwell Smith House and the Affleck House, both in Bloomfield Hills, the Palmer House in Ann Arbor, and in Galesburg, the Curtis Meyer House and the Eric & Pat Pratt House.

Whether you’re able to catch a glimpse from the street, take a public tour, rent, or even buy one of Wright’s masterpieces (they pop up for sale from time to time), these homes remain timeless works that reflect the harmony of homes with their natural surroundings and include innovations that are still hallmarks of today’s architecture.

Annual Frank Lloyd Wright Birthday Celebration

Celebrate the 157th birthday of American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright! Enjoy an open house tour of the Pope-Leighey House in Alexandria, Virginia on June 8th, and learn about the history of the house and its designer. In the yard, enjoy activities related to Wright's life and work, snap a photo wearing his iconic style of hat, and grab a celebratory bite of cake!

This year, The Pope-Leighey House is excited to host education staff from the National Building Museum. Stay a little, or all afternoon to enjoy the festivities!

This is a family friendly event. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students (K-12), 5 and under are free.

Light concessions will be available but you are welcome to bring a picnic. No food or drink will be allowed inside the Pope-Leighey House.

DWR x James Abell: The Search for Sonoran Architecture

If you're in the Scottsdale, Arizona area and looking or a great event to attend this evening, then consider an inspiring lecture presented by Tempe-based architect James Abell, FAIA, LA, in collaboration with Design Within Reach Scottsdale Studio. James will be speaking on "The Search for Sonoran Architecture" at 6pm this evening at Design Within Reach at 15059 N. Scottsdale Rd., Suite 180, Scottsdale, AZ 85254. Follow the link to RSVP.

Wayfarers Chapel’s Tree Canopy Is Trimmed As Step 1 In Dismantling The Iconic Structure

The effort to dismantle and relocate Wayfarers Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes, California began with workers trimming the iconic church’s tree canopy.

Wayfarers officials announced on Monday, May 13, that the historic chapel needs to be relocated to save it from being destroyed by drastic land movement in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Trimming the trees around the glass-and-redwood church, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, Jr., is necessary before dismantling can begin in earnest, Wayfarers Executive Director Dan Burchett said in a Wednesday, May 15, email. Trimming the stone pine trees will make room so the “very large wood bents” that help make up the chapel’s frame can be removed, he said.

“We have consulted an arborist,” Burchett said, “and we are only doing what is necessary with the trees to get the disassembly done.”

Dismantling the chapel, which is a National Historic Landmark, could take upwards of four weeks. But it could take several years to find a new site and reconstruct Wayfarers, officials said at a Monday press conference.

About

This weekly Wright Society update is brought to you by Eric O'Malley with Bryan and Lisa Kelly. If you enjoy these free, curated updates—please forward our sign-up page and/or share on Social Media.

If you’d like to submit content to be featured here, please reach out by emailing us at mail[at]wrightsociety.com.