For the lover of American modernism, perhaps the only thing better than one Frank Lloyd Wright house coming on the market is two Frank Lloyd Wright houses coming on the market. As reported by Craine’s Chicago Business, a Dutch couple currently living in Toronto are planning to list two Usonian homes they own in a single sale. The properties are located near Kalamazoo, Michigan, in an exclusive neighborhood known as The Acres, which is home to only five houses—four of which were designed by Wright.
According to Craine’s, the couple purchased their first home in the neighborhood, known as the Samuel and Dorothy Eppstein House, in 2016 while looking for an interesting weekend getaway. They took precise care in restoring the property to its original state and enjoyed the process so much that they scooped up the home next door, known as the Eric and Pat Pratt House, when it became available a few years later. Both homes feature long in-line floor plans and are made from concrete blocks and mahogany. Inside, the properties feature many classic Wright details including his signature red floors, ample windows, and wood built-ins. The Pratt House also includes a tall central mass made from textile blocks, which the owners said “light up like lanterns from within.” Each home is about 2,200 square feet.
The Acres, also known as Galesburg Country Homes, was devised by a group of scientists from the Upjohn pharmaceutical company, who purchased the land in 1947 and approached Wright to design a collection of community homes. The famed architected agreed and sketched out 21 houses on round one-acre sites. Ultimately, only four of the properties were built, and a fifth home on the land was designed by a Taliesin fellow, Francis “Will” Willsey. In 2004, the neighborhood was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The pair of homes are listed together for $4.5 million. According to Craine’s, the couple purchased each one for about $400,000, though put in much more for the renovation costs, which included updating all the appliances and adding new roofs. The price may be enticing for some—after all, a single Wright home in California is currently on the market for $3.825 million. Another one in Connecticut is asking $8 million, though it is significantly bigger, with 7,000 square feet.
The two Acre homes for sale are direct neighbors, though because of the large plot sizes, are separated by about two acres of land. According to the current owners, the homes could make a good vacation retreat for an extended family, offering a total of five bedrooms and two kitchens. The sale is represented by Victoria Krause Schutte of @Properties Christie’s International Real Estate and Fred Taber of Jaqua Realtors.
“These homes are restored with an eye for detail, and exactly as they were designed to be – they are art pieces as much as they are living spaces,” Schutte said in a statement. “This is an incredibly unique opportunity to own a piece of architectural history and become a custodian of Frank Lloyd Wright’s extraordinary vision.”
