Issue 70 November 8th 2017

The Headlines

Three Frank Lloyd Wright Homes For Sale in Glencoe, Illinois

Three Wright-designed homes on the market in Glencoe, Illinois certainly doesn’t happen very often. The homes provide a rare opportunity to purchase a piece of history — or at a minimum see interior photos of three historic homes.

The Sherman Booth House, 265 Sylvan Road, was listed in September 2016 for $1.7 million, and is now listed at the reduced price of $1.65 million. The Summer Cottage at 239 Franklin Road just hit the market and is listed for $1 million, and the Kier House, 1031 Meadow Road, originally came on the market at $799,000 in September 2017 and is now listed at $779,000.

“It is unusual to have so many (Frank Lloyd Wright homes) so close to each other on the market,” said Peter Van Vechten, president of the Glencoe Historical Society and member of the village’s Preservation Commission. Read more.

Wright's Friedman House For Sale

Built in 1948, the Sol Friedman house, nicknamed Toyhill, located in the Usonia community in Pleasantville, New York has come on the market for $1.5 million. This intriguing, saucer-like Frank Lloyd Wright home boasts a unique floorplan of two intersecting circles topped by mushroom-like roofs, whose motif continues in the mushroom-shaped carport nearby. The 2,164-square-foot residence features a large central hearth, built-in furniture and shelving, stone walls, concrete-slab roofs, oak wood detailing, and windows that come together to create a dynamic space. Read more.

Beach House Designed By Wright Is Available On Airbnb

The beautiful Cooke House, a 3,000-square-foot house lakeside abode in Virginia Beach, Virginia, is an iconic Frank Lloyd Wright creation, perfectly demonstrating Wright’s modern approach to architecture. The renowned residence is named for Andrew and Maude Cooke, a couple who commissioned Wright in 1951. Construction commenced in 1959—a mere two weeks before the architect’s death—and it was completed the following year. In 1983, the home was restored, and today, under its current owners (and potentially your next Airbnb host and hostess) Daniel and Jane Duhl, it appears remarkably similar to when Wright designed it.

With its hemicycle shape, striking angles, and secluded surroundings, the dwelling features site-specific furniture designed by the architect, as well as beautiful skylights and vaulted ceilings. The main house includes three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, exercise room, spa, sauna, and pretty patio that overlooks Crystal Lake. Available on Airbnb for $150 a night, lucky lodgers stay in the attached staff suite—a private cottage made up of a bedroom and bathroom—but are given a complimentary tour of the house by Mr. and Mrs. Duhl upon arrival. However, the home is currently on the market for a cool $2,750,000, so any architecturally-minded Airbnb hopefuls better act fast! Read more.

Decatur's E.P. Irving House Finds New Owner

The 1909 Frank Lloyd Wright designed Edward Irving House has a new owner. The building has a number of well-known Prairie School features, including beautiful ribbons of art glass windows. The 6,000-square-foot building is located at 2 Millikin Place in Decatur, Illinois.

Former owner Marc Willis bought the house in 2013. Since moving in, he has worked to keep the building’s original features in place while also putting in the effort to replicate them. “My interest in Frank Lloyd Wright (involves) arts and crafts (and) the prairie style,” Willis said.

The home went on the market in September at a listing price of $725,000 before someone quickly bought it. Willis hopes the new owner will be someone who could curate the Edward Irving House’s original features.Read more.

VIDEO: Frank Lloyd Wright For The Future

On October 26, 2017, architect Vernon D. Swaback spoke to a sold-out crowd at Taliesin West about his experiences as Frank Lloyd Wright’s apprentice, and why he believes Wright will be increasingly famous and necessary in the future. After the event, he signed copies of his latest book, “Designing for the Life of Community at a Time of Great Change,” at the Frank Lloyd Wright Store at Taliesin West. View here.

Wright's Influence on Home Design Still Felt Today

Fayette County, Pennsylvania residents may want to take advantage of Fallingwater’s upcoming biannual Fayette County Appreciation Day on November 19, 2017 when they are offered free admission to "the house built over a waterfall" that’s considered a masterpiece and one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most famous works.

A press release sent by Fallingwater staff noted, “In addition to touring the house, visitors are invited to explore the latest exhibition in the Speyer Gallery called ‘Wright for Wright: The Experimental Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Homes.’ This exhibition commemorates Wright’s legacy in honor of the 150th anniversary of his birth. Free educational activities will also be offered throughout the day in the Hillman Education Pavilion, located behind the gallery.’’

The release noted, “Advance reservations for tours are essential to guarantee admittance. Tours are available from 10am-4pm. (Fayette County) residents are encouraged to call 724-329-8501 for information and reservations.’’

In conjunction with the anniversary, Lynda Waggoner, vice president of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and director of Fallingwater, shared her thoughts on Wright’s influence on home design, noting that Wright lived from 1867 to 1959 but his work remains significant today. Read more.

"Driftless" Reading Echoes Wisconsin’s Past, Present, and Future

Considered America’s most prolific and creative architect, Frank Lloyd Wright lived and worked along the Wisconsin River south of Spring Green, Wisconsin. The geography and culture of Wisconsin’s Driftless area were celebrated through the words of writers known and unknown, focusing on the only part of Wisconsin that was not bulldozed by glaciers. UW Press communications director Sheila Leary says that “Because of that unique topography, the Driftless has a unique culture, and that’s inspired a lot of art and literature by natives and travelers alike.

At the event for the book, The Driftless Reader, Mary Lloyd Jones read from the autobiography of her relative, Frank Lloyd Wright, a native of Richland Center. Read more.

Mido Introduces LE Watch Inspired By Guggenheim's Architecture

Forbes contributor, Hyla Ames Bauer, announced that "Swiss watch brand Mido recently introduced a new limited edition watch inspired by the architecture of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum at a gala event in the museum's rotunda. The watch's case features a grooved motif that echoes the spiral curves of the landmark Frank Lloyd Wright building. The watch's dial design evokes the Guggenheim's magnificent glass dome ceiling. Powered by an automatic self-winding movement, the watch will be available in a limited edition of 500 pieces, each individually numbered." Read more.

Groovy ’60s Pad by John Lautner Asks $1.5M

A groovy pad by architect, John Lautner (who was an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright), has come on the market in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Designed in 1961, the 3.28-acre property is actually made up of three detached structures shaped like sectors of a circle connected by a daring taut-steel cable roof system topped by light-weight wood sheathing. Windows are formed by a semicircle cutout, with this circular motif popping up all around the home, and the architect’s signature curved concrete volumes.

In the 2,000-square-foot main house are two bedrooms, two baths, an open kitchen, and an incredible raised living area with an arched concrete fireplace and built-in concrete seating. There’s also a 1,000-square-foot one-bed-one bath guest house, as well as an open-air bath house, in addition to the main residence, all of which are arranged around a central courtyard and a swimming pool. View here.

Six Mid-Century Modern Campus Buildings You Need to See

Nation-Now lists six mid-century modern campus buildings you need to see, including Grady Gammage Auditorium at Arizona State University, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1957.

"Completed in 1962, Arizona State University’s Grady Gammage Auditorium perfectly encapsulates the vision of the school’s former president whose name it bears. Gammage wanted a circular structure that would provide visitors a warm welcome to the campus, and Wright certainly delivered."

Rounding out the list is: 1) Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s S. R. Crown Hall, Illinois Institute of Technology; 2) Italian-born architect Pietro Belluschi's Crossett Library, Bennington College; 3) Eero Saarinen's MIT Chapel; 4) Minoru Yamasaki's McGregor Memorial Conference Center, Wayne State University; 5) Geisel Library at the University of California, San Diego, designed by William Pereira. Read more.

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