With only 400-some Wright structures still standing, surely these listings must erupt in bidding wars from eager buyers as soon as they hit the market, right?
Wrong. On the contrary, Wright homes tend to sit on the market for years. Often with numerous price cuts!
— Realtor.com
Owning a home designed by a famed architect may be a dream for many. However, what are some of the unforeseen factors that come with owning such a home? According to Adriana Velez from realtor.com, owning a Frank Lloyd Wright home comes with its fair share of obstacles.
Velez explains, "for starters, keep in mind that most Wright homes were built in the early to mid-1900s. So these homes are up in the years, and often in dire need of upkeep and repairs." She continues, "Repairing or restoring a Wright house is even more difficult if it has landmark status. That means any renovation plans must be approved by the local landmarks commission, and are subject to restrictions meant to preserve the historical accuracy of the structure."
Other challenges buyers of Wright-designed homes face can include the unconventional floor plans, furniture, and specific color schemes used during Wright's heyday. Potential buyers should anticipate this when purchasing a home designed by Wright, of course, as some of these specific design attributes are part of the architecture that only true Wright aficionados may want.
Barbara Gordon, the executive director of the Frank Lloyd Wright Conservancy shares with Velez, "It takes a special person to take on the stewardship of owning and maintaining a Wright home. They really are works of art, and don't fit many of the ideals of what new home construction can provide people today."
1 Comment
I met Frank Lloyd Wright in 1952 as a freshman at Cornell College o Architecture — a lecture for 3000, then at a private reception for we 200 architecture students — one of the three life-changing encounters; the other two were Bucky fuller and Jonas Salk.
But is was in my visits to Wright’s work that I was truly humbled — every other architecture that I have visited, I knew I could do as well given the budget and craftspeople — but Wright’s work is a whole different level — like Beethoven’s music or Lincoln’s speeches — just extra-ordianary.
The essence of architecture is not the style or substance — it is the feeling of the space — great architecture feels great!
Marketing these Wright gems as real estate is the mistake; I invited my grandson who lives in the Phoenix area to buy the Norman Lykes house for 2,6 million which would cost about twenty thousand a month to carry, and rent out bedrooms to architects and other esthetes for a thousand dollars a night via Airbnb — market the feeling — but he thought pop-pop was nuts; which is probably true.
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