Frank Lloyd Wright’s Houses on sale – Can you afford any?

It is not just money that you need to have to afford a Frank Lloyd Wright house. The works of Frank Lloyd Wright -the greatest American architect of all time- have created a foundation for many designers and architects. He genuinely built for users and inspired all kinds of artists; even filmmakers and art directors, as some of his buildings featured in movies and TV shows!
The famous architect built nearly 300 houses, several of which are on the property market seeking buyers. 9 houses are currently on sale, and they might linger on the market for months, but why would it be so hard to sell such artworks that have many (high-net-worth) admirers?

The earliest house on sale -designed in 1900 in Chicago, and identified six years later as a city landmark- is priced at only $175,000. The Foster house comes with large living rooms, a fireplace, and a generous landscape. But the buyer has to carefully calculate the time and effort they will need to recover the original details designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

The Coonely Playhouse in the historic district of Riverside, Illinois, presents the Usonian House concept. A concept that Frank Lloyd Wright invented for the American middle class. The $650,000 house, originally built in 1912 to be a small private school; the Coonely House functioned very well when it was converted to a single-family house. The house features cantilevered roofs carved by rectangular openings, to introduce a playful shadow over the walls.

The Coonely Playhouse – Photo by Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy

A later design by Frank Lloyd Wright; the Kier house is priced at $724,000. It is one of another five buildings by the famous architect in the neighborhood. Although updated for modern living, the Kier house conserves some of its original characteristics; hardwood works, stained glass windows, and a stately brick fireplace.
The Henderson house is located in Elmhurst -another historic district in Illinois-. This one is an obvious prairie-style house, as it features open formal spaces: a longitudinal gallery, a library with built-in shelves and stained-glass windows, and a living room with a roman brick fireplace.

Another prairie-style house for sale is the Copeland house in the Frank Lloyd Wright historic district in Illinois. This state of the house is a redesign by Wright; he added a spacious veranda, assured the flowing transition from one space to the other, and designed special built-in-furniture.

The Neils house is one of only two Frank Lloyd Wright‘s houses in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The expensive materials of this house are what makes it very special; as these are not the typical choices by Wright. The marble walls and aluminium window framing are the original owner’s special request. Other than that, the L-shaped circulation is too Usonian. With a price of $2,750,000; the Neils’ overlooks a tree-filled landscape and a serene lake.

The Neils House – Photo by Dwell

What happened to the Thaxton house -which is the only Frank Lloyd Wright built project in Texas- is exactly why it is so hard to find the right buyer for such historical artworks. After the original owner sold it; the house endured some cruel changes. Custom built-in-furniture designed by Wright was torn out, and the redwood walls were painted over with no respect for the chosen material palette. The house was slowly losing its authenticity and almost torn down in the late 1990s.
But thankfully; two architecture enthusiasts bought the Thaxton and restored it according to Wright’s design, and the house returned to the market with an asking price of $2,850,000.

The last residential masterpiece by Frank Lloyd Wright; the David and Gladys Wright house and guest house in Phoenix is priced at $9,999,999. It is the only spiral residence designed by Wright. The house is raised on columns to provide views of the surrounding citrus orchard.

David and Gladys Wright house – Photo by Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation

The clean lines of the forms and interiors, the integration between the indoor and outdoor, and the seamless transitions between spaces all create a unique experience for a Wright house owner, but whoever is willing to purchase a historical building has to know this is more than an investment, for it requires a consistent act of preserving. Can’t afford a house by the master architect? You still have the opportunity to live in a Frank Lloyd Wright house, so don’t miss that!

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