Cincinnati’s Frank Lloyd Wright Home!

Cincinnati’s Frank Lloyd Wright Home!

Cincinnati's Frank Lloyd Wright Home!

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In 1936, in the throes of the depression, Wright’s attention turned from the Prairie style of architecture to something he felt was more attainable for the middle class. He named it Usonian/Usonian Automatic. The design cut costs by having no basement and no attic. Construction was supposed to have consisted of the owner pouring their own mixed concrete into decorative block forms. When enough blocks had been made, they were laid stacked vertically, one atop the other rather than staggered. When 3 rows were complete, rebar would be strung through and mortar poured down through the rebar to form a strong bond.

Of course few owners had the strength, time or patience to do the work themselves and ended up hiring a contractor. This took the homes from middle class income families to upper middle class, which could more easily afford them.

The iconic Gerald B. Tonkens house, built in 1955 was a perfect Usonian Automatic example and only one of seven built. Instead of the family building it themselves, Eric Lloyd Wright, Frank Lloyd’s grandson, moved to Cincinnati and acted as construction supervisor over the contractor.

The Tonkens family have lived in the house continuously for over half a century since it was built and this is the first time it has been advertised for sale. Sited on over four acres, the house contains eleven different patterns of concrete block and over 400 inset windows. The paneling is Philippine mahogany with one bedroom ceiling gilded in 18K gold leaf. There are 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, updated kitchen, private study and attached carport. A more unusual point of interest is the stained driveway in Wright’s favorite color, Cherokee red, that matches the red front door. There is also a cottage on the property which was the original farmhouse and is also well maintained.

Because the home has always been with the original family and so carefully maintained, they also hold all the documents, plans, correspondence and telegrams that traveled between the owners and Frank and Eric Lloyd Wright. There are also boxes of photos, articles and books featuring the house as well as letters from famous people who visited such as Walter Cronkite, Neil Armstrong, Jack Lenor Larsen and others. All of these historical documents are included in the sale of the property. Inset into the house is the FLW signed red tile indicating the approval of Wright and the brass plaque of the National Historic Register.

What doesn’t come with the house? The original Frank Lloyd Wright-designed furniture specified for this residence available at an additional cost. Also the FLW designed cat house, commissioned for the daughter of Gerald Tonkens, which can be purchased on 1stdibs.com for $14,500!

The Gerald B. Tonkens house was built in 1955. For sale by original owner at $1,788,000.

Photo Credit Barry Vangov Photography

Source: www.comey.com