If anyone knows about architecture, they know about Frank Lloyd Wright. As one of the greatest, if not the greatest, architectural pioneers of the 20th century, Wright was a master of his craft. As many know, he invented the Usonian architectural style, a uniquely American style to reflect its values. Although Wright focused many of his architectural designs in the Midwest and East Coast, he designed three homes in Seattle, giving those residents a chance to live in a work of art. They are all located in the Seattle area: the Brandes house, the Tracy House, and the Chauncey L. Griggs house. Below are details on each property:
1. The Brandes House – Located in Sammamish, the Brandes house is on 4.5 acres with a natural woodland setting. The builder and original owner, Ray Brandes, originally asked Wright to design him a home so he could use it as a showpiece for his construction company. Designed 60 years ago, the home is a classic Usonian design, with the trademarks including red-tinted concrete, concrete block, redwood millwork, glass, and generous floor-to-ceiling windows. Although only 1900 square feet, the Wright design with its open floor plan and Wright-designed built-ins and furniture make it appear much larger. The Brandes House is currently on the market, giving its next owners a chance to live in a historical piece of art and a gorgeous home to boot. It’s listed by Betsy Terry and Jane Powers of Ewing & Clark. For more details, please visit the Ewing and Clark Website.
2. The Tracy House – Located in Normandy Park, the Tracy House was built from 1955-1956, only a few years before Frank Lloyd Wright’s passing. It also follows the Usonian design, featuring the trademarks of redwood plywood panels, glass, and concrete slabs. In fact, the 1700 slabs were cast by the owners and the contractor was Ray Brandes, the same one who built the Brandes House. The design faces west to take advantage of the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountain views and is at an angle to offer the privacy so standard of Frank Lloyd Wright’s designs.
3. The Chauncey L. Griggs House – Located a bit further south in Tacoma, the Chauncey L. Griggs House is the first Frank Lloyd Wright house in the Seattle area. It is also Usonian design, but to me, is on the grander scale. Instead of the 4-foot grid system used in the above examples, the Griggs house features 7-foot grids. It also has 3 fireplaces, including one large enough to stand in. Instead of having staggering concrete blocks, the Griggs house stacks them on top of each other for the concrete block wall construction. It has similar trademarks as the above designs, including a hidden entrance, floor to ceiling glass windows, and an open floor plan.
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