You can own a piece of architectural history: the 5,000-square-foot home that launched Frank Lloyd Wright’s career is on the market. But history doesn’t come cheap. The key to the front door of the Prairie School home Wright designed in the Chicago suburb of River Forest will cost you nearly $2 million.
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Wright was just 26 years old when he was commissioned to design the home for Edith and William Winslow. Built in 1893, the stately Winslow House was Wright’s first major independent commission after leaving the firm of Adler & Sullivan. Today, the home – which Wright considered his first Prairie-style design – is on the market, listed for $1,985,000 by Christie’s International Real Estate.
The architect’s work on the 5,000-square foot, five-bed, three-and-a-half-bath home would kickstart his groundbreaking career. The Winslow House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
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“The offering of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Winslow House is a rare chance to own an indelible part of American architectural history,” said Elizabeth August of Christie’s. “The current owners took incredible care to bring the home up to date while honoring Wright’s vision, and now this home is ready for the right buyer to usher it into its next era.”
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The interior has elements found in Wright’s own home, with the fireplace at the center facing the entry, rooms on either side and a hidden main staircase. One particularly interesting design feature is the inglenook in the entry, a cozy, semi-enclosed space where one could enjoy conversation with guests. This space was considered the heart of the home, around which the family could gather. An octagonal staid tower in the back of the residence adds to the home’s unique quality.
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The home underwent a significant renovation in 2018, during which systems were modernized, and several rooms were restored to their original grandeur. Work included adding air conditioning, updating the bathrooms, stripping paint off intricately carved limestone — with dental tools at times — and rebuilding a pair of original built-in benches that had been removed from the dining room.
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Said to be influenced by the works of Wright’s mentor Louis Sullivan, the home’s design features elements of the Prairie School buildings that would later define his legacy.
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Recognized by the American Institute of Architects as the greatest American architect of all time, Frank Lloyd Wright created some of the world’s most innovative structures and spaces. He designed more than 1,100 architectural works, 532 of which were realized and 380 of which remain standing today. Eight of his buildings have been designated UNESCO World Heritage sites, including New York’s Guggenheim Museum and his showcase house, Fallingwater, in western Pennsylvania.
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