Summer Sights: The Duncan House
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.16.07
Another summer site that is now open is the Duncan House, a Usonian design by Frank Lloyd Wright that was moved from Chicago to Polymath Park, a resort near Pittsburgh. Usonian houses were "ypically small, single story dwellings without a garage or much storage, L-shaped to fit around a garden terrace on odd (and cheap) lots, and environmentally-conscious with native materials, flat roofs and large cantilevered overhangs for passive solar heating and natural cooling, natural lighting with clerestory windows, and radiant floor heating (WP)"
It is the usual sad story: a developer bought it and wanted it out of the way, so it is expensively taken apart and reassembled. At least it found a good home; “It was a major jigsaw puzzle,” said Thomas Papinchak, a builder who said he spent “close to seven figures” buying and reassembling the components. Polymath Park is home to three houses designed by Wright or his apprentice Peter Berndtson; three can stay in it for $385 per night. for ::Polymath Park via ::New York Times
Duncan House before it was moved
Good it could be saved, unlike the prospect for that Paul Rudolph house posted earlier. But quite a shame that it had to be moved, as that diminishes its integrity and historic value.
Wright essentially invented and perfected the ubiquitous ranch house with his Usonian designs. At the time there were almost no architects in the US designing simple, (relatively) inexpensive house for the middle class.
Wright's Usonians, however, were almost always designed for particular locations, climates and orientations, not to mention tailored to each client. The accompanying photos show that the house was almost certainly oriented to take advantage of views from the property, solar gain, and to be shielded from winter winds.
This house features a prominent gable-ended roof. Wright preferred flat roofs for their departure from the Victorian, the absence of a clutter-collecting attic, and their reinforcement of the horizontal that denotes a close bond with the landscape.
Flat roofs were also cheaper, and Wright never spent a dime he didn't have to on roofs, foundations, or structure! Wright was green in a very spiritual way, in addition to thrifty. In siting his homes, he also always favored the land over the building.
Wright's Usonian houses are gems. They always reward a visit with their exquisite details, flowing space and tight composition. Congratulations to the owner for taking the care needed to rebuild the house and making it available to the public!