Issue 474  July 23rd 2025

Samara Reopens For Tours

Samara, a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home and National Historic Landmark, will be open for public tours Wednesdays through Sundays from July 23 through Nov. 23.

Samara is located at 1301 Woodland Avenue in West Lafayette, IN. The home is reopening for tours after the second phase of a comprehensive restoration. The house is considered one of the famous architect’s most fully realized Usonian designs in the United States.

Advance tickets are required and may be purchased at samara-house.org. Tickets are $20 per person for the general public, $18 per person for Indiana Landmarks members; and $5 per person for children ages 6-11.

Completed for John and Catherine Christian in 1956, Samara offers visitors a rare and immersive opportunity to experience Wright’s work just as if they were guests of the family. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 2015, the property opened for public tours in 2023, following a $2 million restoration that addressed structural and mechanical issues, refreshed finishes, and ensured visitors could once again enjoy all areas of the home.

Recently completed, the second phase of the restoration focused on repairs to the roof, including removing existing tar and gravel down to the house’s wooden deck and replacing it with a new high-performance membrane. The project necessitated removal of the house’s decorative copper fascia, which was carefully catalogued and stored before reinstallation. Remarkably, this work marks only the second time in the home’s 70-year history that the roof has been replaced.

Samara is one of seven Frank Lloyd Wright-designed homes in Indiana and the only one open for ongoing public tours. In 2024, more than 4,300 people from all 50 states and five countries visited Samara.

In the early 1950s, Purdue University professor Dr. John Christian and his wife Catherine dreamed of a home that would serve both their desire to entertain friends, staff, and students while being a structure that would grow with their family. Research, perseverance, and a touch of luck led the Christians to Frank Lloyd Wright.

In turn, Wright and his associates worked with the Christians to realize the architect’s vision in every aspect of their new home. Everything, from landscaping, furniture, accessories, and linens, bears the architect’s imprint.

The house represents one of the most complete works by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Today, Indiana Landmarks co-stewards Samara with the John E. Christian Family Memorial Trust, Inc., working to preserve the extraordinary property and share its remarkable history. For more information, visit samara-house.org.

Click for more details: kpcnews.com  

Frank Lloyd Wright's Work In LA Is Going To Get Its Own Series & Films

Frank Lloyd Wright, the man dubbed the "greatest American architect of all time" by the American Institute of Architects, is set to have his iconic work turned into its own television series and films.

Wright's Ennis House, in the Los Angeles, CA neighborhood of Los Feliz, was used in Blade Runner and his Storer House (in the Hollywood Hills) was used in Die Hard and Lethal Weapon.

Now, The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation has struck a deal with Galisteo Media to develop and produce content based on his work. This includes scripted series and films as well as non-fiction projects.

Galisteo Media, which was co-founded by Rob Rosenheck and Cindy Capobianco, stewards of The Ennis House, will have access to the IP of The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, including exclusive rights to produce content featuring Wright's life and works in Los Angeles during his years there in the 1920s, the period when Wright created his iconic Mayan Revival textile block houses including The Ennis House, The Millard House in Pasadena, which was used in Westworld, The Storer House and The Freeman House in Hollywood as well as Hollyhock, which is LA's only UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The move comes as Frank Lloyd Wright continues to be represented in buzzy series. In Seth Rogen's Apple comedy The Studio, the fake Continental Studios offices were described as designed by the architect in his "signature Mayan style", while in FX's The Bear, Jeremy Allen White's Carmy visits his legendary Chicago home and studio in Oak Park, Illinois.

The deal also gives The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation access to Galisteo Media's network of creators, financing, and distribution.

Galisteo Media produced and distributed the 2024 documentary, Lover of Men: The Untold History of Abraham Lincoln.

"Frank Lloyd Wright was a giant. Not only did he influence the world of Architecture-his philosophy, expressed through his buildings have influenced the way we live, work and relate to both the built environment as well as the natural world. It's long overdue that his remarkable life story is brought to the big screen," said Galisteo Media's CEO Robert Rosenheck.

“Rob and Cindy have been model stewards of the iconic Ennis House in Los Angeles. Their long history of philanthropy and storytelling makes them the perfect partners to illuminate Wright's bold experimentation and innovation," added Joseph Specter, the CEO of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.

Click for more details: msn.com  

Circular Usonian Residences : Toyhill House

The Toyhill House, officially known as the Sol Friedman House, is a Usonian residence designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1948 and located in Pleasantville, NY. Its structure is based on two intersecting circles—one for the main living and dining area, the other for a workspace and guest quarters—reflecting Wright’s affinity for organic geometry. Notable features include a mushroom-like carport supported by a dendriform concrete column, which blends naturally with the wooded surroundings. Inside, the use of stone, metal-framed windows, and custom oak built-ins creates a unified and functional living space, consistent with Wright’s holistic approach to architecture. The radial layout extends through the home, including a loft area called the "Playspace," reinforcing the organic symmetry.

As the first home in the Usonia II community, Toyhill illustrates Wright’s postwar goal of creating affordable yet modern homes. Its circular forms anticipate the later design of the Guggenheim Museum, while its use of local materials and integrated furnishings showcases a dedication to craftsmanship and sustainability. Still privately owned and carefully preserved, the Toyhill House stands as a significant example of Wright’s architectural innovation and enduring influence.

This design aligns with emerging trends in architecture, including the growing interest in sustainable circular living spaces, integrated built-in furniture, and organically symmetrical layouts. These themes have broader implications across industries, from eco-friendly home construction to custom architectural furnishing and heritage property preservation.

Click for more details: trendhunter.com