frank lloyd wright’s concrete usonian house with cantilevered roof hits the market
The house, a low‑profile Usonian design featuring a sweeping cantilevered roof, hand‑cast concrete block walls and mahogany‑framed glazing, returns to market with three bedrooms, two baths and roughly 2,500 sq ft of living space. Its original owners, Upjohn scientists Samuel and Dorothy Eppstein, helped fabricate about 3,000 concrete blocks and negotiated larger children’s rooms and a kitchen window, illustrating a collaborative client‑architect relationship that is uncommon in Wright’s portfolio. The current listing, handled by Signature Sotheby’s International Realty, reflects a $2.1 million asking price that incorporates the cost of a comprehensive restoration completed by Marika Broere and Tony Hillebrandt, who repaired the roof, upgraded building systems, and refreshed the Cherokee‑red radiant‑heated concrete floors and Wright‑designed woodwork.
The Eppstein house sits within The Acres, a 70‑acre Wright‑planned enclave originally intended for 21 circular homesites but ultimately yielding only four Wright‑designed structures. This scarcity elevates the property’s cultural cachet, positioning it alongside a handful of similarly rare Wright residences that have recently surfaced in high‑end real‑estate markets. The resurgence of interest in mid‑century modern architecture, coupled with a limited inventory of authentic Wright homes, has driven comparable properties into the multi‑million‑dollar range, reinforcing the notion that architectural provenance now functions as a premium asset class rather than a niche curiosity.
Looking ahead, the house’s price tag and historic status will likely attract a narrow pool of buyers—collectors, preservationists, or investors seeking experiential luxury. Potential owners must navigate strict preservation guidelines that could constrain future alterations and increase ongoing maintenance costs, especially given the house’s concrete block envelope and radiant‑heat system. Moreover, the broader The Acres community remains under‑developed, meaning any new acquisition could influence future stewardship of the site’s shared open land. Monitoring how the market values such architect‑designed homes and whether buyers are willing to shoulder the stewardship responsibilities will be key indicators of the durability of the current price premium.
Key Takeaways
The Eppstein house’s $2.1 million listing reflects both its rarity as one of only four Wright‑designed homes in The Acres and the high cost of preserving a mid‑century masterpiece.
Owner‑driven construction involvement, exemplified by the Eppsteins’ hand‑casting of 3,000 concrete blocks, adds a unique provenance that enhances the property’s narrative appeal.
Recent restorations that modernized systems while retaining original Wright details demonstrate that careful upgrades can make historic homes viable for contemporary luxury markets.
Future owners will face strict preservation requirements and potentially higher maintenance outlays, making the purchase as much a stewardship commitment as an investment.
About the Source
This analysis is based on reporting by Design Boom. Here is a short excerpt for context:
cherokee red floors and hand-cast concrete blocks remain throughout the restored residence by frank lloyd wright. The post frank lloyd wright’s concrete usonian house with cantilevered roof hits the market appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.Read the original at Design Boom
