6 Luxury Homes Inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright
In honor of Frank Lloyd Wright’s birthday, Luxury Defined presents a collection of homes inspired by the master of 20th century architecture
In honor of Frank Lloyd Wright’s birthday, Luxury Defined presents a collection of homes inspired by the master of 20th century architecture
June 8 marks the birth of Frank Lloyd Wright, arguably America’s, if not the world’s, most celebrated architect of the 20th century. Wright’s audacious modernism gave us the Guggenheim Museum and the glorious Fallingwater residence, but he was as adept at designing the furnishings and interiors that fulfilled them. It is a rare occasion indeed when a Wright-designed home comes on the market, and while Christie’s International Real Estate Affiliates have been privileged to offer Wright-designed properties for sale in recent years, today we can find inspiration in those residences that, while not designed by Wright himself, were distinctly influenced by him. Happy 152nd, FLW!
Prairie-Inspired Estate in Gelderland, Netherlands
This unique waterfront residence is situated on beautiful grounds surrounded by a lake overlooking The Dutch golf course in the village of Spijk. The Spica Estate has the allure of a country house yet with the amenities and décor of a chic urban hotel—underground parking with space for a dozen cars, a butler’s house, and a carriage house with pool, gym, sauna, and hammam. Evocative of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie style, the main residence is a tiered, cantilevered structure with an organic, open plan layout, featuring vaulted ceilings, a warm palette, and abundant fenestration. The property is currently configured as six penthouse suites, each with more than 6,000 square feet of living space and 2,500 square feet of terraces from which to take in the bucolic views.
Mid-Century Mansion in Tucker’s Town, Bermuda
With its mid-century modern design attributed to a protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright, this Tucker’s Town mansion has a fascinating provenance, including its tenure as the private retreat of Lord Martonmere, a former governor of Bermuda. Glebe House has a private hilltop setting with panoramic vistas of four bodies of water (the Atlantic Ocean, Castle Harbour, Harrington Sound, and Trott Pond) and two golf courses (the Mid-Ocean Club and Tucker’s Point Club). Wright’s architectural influences appear in the indoor-outdoor floor plan, stone atriums, beamed ceilings, and Asian themes. The sweeping, double-story living room, oval dining room, large, light-filled kitchen, and cocktail lawn are a nod to the home’s diplomatic past. Further highlights include generous accommodations (five suites, three staff rooms, and two guest apartments) and an outdoor pool and poolhouse with changing rooms and a kitchen.
Asian-Inspired Estate in Coto De Caza, California
The Lotus House is a private, gated two-acre estate in the Enclave, an exclusive community in Cota De Caza, Orange County. The Frank Lloyd Wright influences are evident in the Asian-inspired façade, low-pitched rooflines, and floor-to-ceiling windows. A forecourt leads up to a portico flanked by stone pillars. The dramatic two-story entrance gallery has clerestory windows, which flood the space with natural light. Farther along is a formal dining room, sitting room, office, exercise room, and massive kitchen. The private quarters include a master and guest suite on the main level and four bedrooms on upper floor. Sliding glass doors allow a seamless transition from the indoors to the grounds, a Zen-inspired sanctuary featuring a lagoon-style infinity pool with swim-up bar, spa, wooden footbridge, koi pond, and entertaining terrace with firepit.
Modernist Mountain Home In Ketchum, Idaho
Built into a hillside overlooking Baldy Mountain and dramatic panoramas to the west, this is a one-of-a-kind residence in Ketchum, Idaho. Another tribute to Wright’s modern aesthetic and geometric forms, this unique home could be Wright’s never achieved “Mountain” style. Rather than merging with the horizontals of the prairie, this beautiful home, with its Wright-style gables, rooflines, overhanging eaves and sheltered balconies, nestles into the mountainscape. The spacious yet intimate interior, executed in a palette of warm earth tones, is amplified by beamed ceilings, magnificent stone floors, and fireplace surrounds. The use of wood, both inside and outside, is another standout feature, particularly the mahogany finishes, timber beams, and intricately carved staircase. The great room, glass-enclosed formal dining room, and mid-century modern kitchen are styled for grand-scale entertaining, as are the tranquil outdoor spaces, enhanced with lush landscaping and cascading waterfalls.
Central American Retreat in Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Perhaps farthest afield, in a place where one might least expect a Frank Lloyd Wright homage, is a stunning residence in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, that also draws inspiration from the renowned Fallingwater. Again, this elegant home follows a linear pattern to create several subtle levels, embracing both its enclosed swimming pool and the dramatic Caribbean coastline as if in one bold flourish. The interiors here need not overwhelm, because they embrace and welcome in the spectacular surroundings that beckon just beyond.
Contemporary Coastal Estate in Kennemerland, Netherlands
Bloemenoord is a contemporary country estate on 10 acres in Kennemerland, a scenic coastal region in northwest Holland. The original manor house and parklike gardens, designed by landscape architect Leonard A. Springer, were built in 1920. Architect Aat van Tilburg rebuilt the main residence in a symmetrical, U-shaped design inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie style. Defined by the classic low pitched-roof, overhanging eaves, central chimney, and open floor plan, the main house together with the ancillary buildings (orangery, indoor pool, tennis court and pavilion, and four-car garage), forms a harmonious whole against the backdrop of the Kennemerland countryside.