Lloyd Wright’s Birdsong!

Lloyd Wright’s Birdsong!

Lloyd Wright's Birdsong!

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A botanist and horticulturist prior to becoming an architect and following in his famous father’s footsteps, Frank Lloyd Wright, Jr, or Lloyd, as he was called, dropped out of college early on to take a position with the most important landscape architects of the day, the Olmsted Brothers. Well known for their projects such as the Biltmore Estate and the World’s Columbian Exposition, the founder of the company, Frederick Law Olmsted, was also the main designer of New York’s Central Park. One of the Olmsted Brothers’ first projects for Lloyd was to send him to work on the World’s Columbian Exposition. He moved permanently to California around 1911 when he was sent there by Olmsted to work on the landscape design for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in San Diego. It was there under the mentorship of architect William J. Dodd that he ventured into structure architecture and afterwards went out on his own in 1920.

Though his father recognized the importance of blending landscape views with the interior of a house, Lloyd seemed to place the emphasis on the landscape with an artfully designed building that would protect people from the elements while still gaining full appreciation of the outdoors. A good example is evidenced in his most praised work, the Wayfarers Chapel on the coast of Rancho Palos Verdes, which is constructed almost entirely of glass and surrounded by Sequoias overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The plans for the Birdsong residence in Minnetonka, Minnesota were drawn by Lloyd in 1960. However, the owners waited until they found the perfect piece of land to compliment the house and it wasn’t built until 1963. By then, Lloyd had veered from his father’s designs, making homes more adaptable to the time with larger kitchens and baths. Birdsong rests on 12 acres, 10 of which are in carefully manicured lawns, edged beds, with a pond and natural pool with fountains. The house is nestled into the land as though it had grown there. The 5,999-square-foot home is a study in angles with rooms positioned for the best views. The interior consists of five bedrooms, five baths, open and spacious formal rooms and a large family room called the "old room" due to the old barn wood paneling. Happily, Lloyd maintained his father’s appreciation for massive fireplaces and Birdsong is graced with three. There is also a three-car garage, a clay tennis court and terraces perfect for enjoying the view of the grounds or for entertaining. For more information.

Birdsong; a classic Frank Lloyd Wright, Jr. design on 12 acres in Minnetonka, Minnesota is now for sale. Priced at $5.9 million.

Source: www.edinarealty.com