Rare Frank Lloyd Wright schoolhouse turned home seeks $800K in Riverside

One of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most interesting homes wasn’t originally designed to be a home at all—it was a schoolhouse. Now, for the first time in almost four decades, this restored residence outside Chicago is on the market for $800,000.

In 1908, Frank Lloyd Wright was commissioned to build an estate for Avery Coonley and Queene Ferry Coonley in suburban Riverside, Illinois. After the mansion was completed in 1912, the couple tapped the architect to design a schoolhouse nearby.

The school was only used as such until 1919 when it became a family residence. Wright‘s assistant, William Drummond, was brought in to convert the property at 350 Fairbank Road into a home. The Cottage School, later renamed the Avery Coonley School, moved to Downers Grove and is still open today.

Sometimes referred to as the Avery Coonley Playhouse, the two-bedroom structure is remarkable for a number of reasons. It served as a testing ground for many concepts Wright would later use in his Usonia homes such as flat, cantilevered roofs and lots of built-in shelving.

Another special feature are the art glass windows which depict a colorful, almost confetti-like design. It’s the first instance where Wright uses circles—and the only time he incorporated an American flag—into his traditionally straight line aesthetic. The original triptych window from the schoolhouse is on display at the Art Institute of Chicago, but the home has a museum-quality replica.

Owners Susan Shipper-Smith and Ted Smith have worked on restoring the home since 1980, according to Crain’s which first reported the listing. When the couple bought the property, the flooring was cracked and wood was painted over. They made preservation a priority making sure to restore, and sometimes recreate, its architectural details.

Some original windows were saved and the cracked-beyond-repair wood flooring was redone in an authentic fashion. A new roof was installed in 2012 and the home’s electrical, plumbing, and heating is all new too.

The cross-shaped home also comes with two separate structures built at different times now used as garages on the half-acre site. The fireplace at one end of the home is on a raised platform which Coonley used as a stage for school performances and behind nearby wooden panels is the kitchen.

While the structure was built as a school, it did have a kitchen back then. Kids helped prepare lunch at the schoolhouse, so the space was designed to accommodate them. When a renovation does take place, some counters will need a lift if the new owners are interested in a more adult-friendly layout .

A lot of work has been put into the home, but it’s clear from the photos a little fixing up is needed. And while $800,000 is pricey, it’s several hundred thousand lower than most other Frank Lloyd Wright homes.

• 350 Fairbank Road, Riverside Illinois [Coldwell Banker]
• Previous Frank Lloyd Wright coverage [Curbed Chicago]