Recent Frank Lloyd Wright Restoration Projects in the News

Owners of mid-century Modern houses might be interested in a recent issue of SaveWright, the semi-annual publication of the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy.   Some of the case studies and issues discussed in the magazine may be relevant to the restoration and retrofitting of homes built in the 1940s and 50s.  This "homeowners' issue" is devoted to the subject of owning and preserving houses designed by Wright.  Its contents are as follows:

1. President's Message:  Owning and Preserving a Wright Work of Art
2. "A Preservation Model: The Glasner House" by Ron Scherubel with Jack Reed:  Recounts the restoration of a 1905-06 house north of Chicago which was about to be razed by developers.  Discusses the primary elements of Wright's design (a precursor to his Usonian house designs); expertise required, restoration elements needed (a structural reinforcement system, surface finish restoration; off-site restoration of art-glass windows) and new heating and cooling system (radiant heat fed form geothermal wells); removal of an inappropriate recent kitchen remodel and restoration of Wright's original floor plan.  [Note: The photos, which show the restored kitchen design, as well as the restoration of the original color palette on walls, ceilings, and floors, show the problems with imposing the tastes of later periods on a building with such a strong unified aesthetic.   People who buy homes with dark woodwork often rush to paint all the walls off-white, and sometimes they paint the woodwork and stonework itself white "to brighten things up."  White is exactly the WRONG color for such homes and works against the beauty of the wood.   The original palette for such homes calls for natural harmonizing colors--greens, tans, browns, yellow-golds, and grays.--My comment]
3. "The Restored Turkel House: Source of Community Pride" by Jane King Hession: The story of how a Usonian Automatic concrete block house in Detroit was saved and restored.   This 1955 house found sympathetic buyers who used their deep pockets to undertake a complicated and expensive restoration project.   Long-term neglect of the property had caused significant water damage;  original cabinetry had been removed; interior concrete had been painted.   Not surprisingly, the flat roof needed repair.  The new owners consulted the local historic district commission to find the necessary professional expertise for the job and obtained access to original design materials from the Frank Lloyd Wright Archives in Scottsdale, Arizona to help guide decisions about restoration and remodeling.   The article also discusses how the owners approached the issue of "restoration" vs. "renovation."            
4. "Making a Wright House a Home: Restoration of the Richardson House" by Edith Payne:  A good piece for owners of mid-century Modern houses.   Payne writes about the challenges and rewards of purchasing and restoring a 1941/1951 Wright house in New Jersey originally designed for Betty and Stuart Richardson.  The house came with many mechanical and aesthetic problems.  Removal of the failed radiant heating system and installation of a new one was the biggest challenges.   Also, the original owners had opted out of Wright's kitchen design for financial reasons, and the resulting kitchen was out of harmony as well as being out of repair when the Paynes bought the house, so they removed it.  Sagging cantilevers (also a common feature in aging Wright houses) needed structural repairs, and the flat roof needed re-engineering.  Not a project for the faint of heart.  Payne gives frank advice to those contemplating buying a Wright house.   Restoration requires great expertise and time, and of course, money.  The techniques required to construct and repair Wright buildings may elude even the most skilled craftsmen, and require guidance from a professional trained in Wright's techniques.   Further, she notes, Wright houses are not suited to everyone's lifestyle.  Finally, do you think your furniture will work in a Wright house?   Probably not!
5.  "Valuing and Pricing Wright Houses: General Principles" by Leo Koonmen
6. "Selling a Frank Lloyd Wright House: My Experience with the Brandes House" by Deborah Vick
7. "The Conservancy as a Resource for Homeowners" by Edith Payne and John Thorpe