Celebrity Life

Although America’s greatest architect died more than 60 years ago, it’s still possible to buy a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed residence. We find out, it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

Frank Lloyd Wright was one of the world’s most influential and prolific architects, his creative period ramping up in the closing decades of the 19th century and continuing until his death in 1959. Over more than 70 years the visionary American designed 1,114 structures, with 532 being completed. They included offices, churches, schools, skyscrapers, hotels, museums and, of course, designer homes.

Among the most celebrated was the rural-Pennsylvania residence known as Fallingwater (completed in 1938), which the American Institute of Architects described in 1991 as “the best all-time work of American architecture". Wright was also behind New York City’s distinctive, spiralling Solomon R Guggenheim Museum that opened in October 1959, six months after his death.

[caption id="attachment_208729" align="alignnone" width="1461"] The David and Gladys Wright House in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sale for a Dollar Under Us$10 Million[/caption]

Unfortunately, not all of his designs still stand, making those remaining even more desirable.

For architecture buffs, to possess and possibly live in a Wright masterpiece would be the stuff of dreams, and a prime example of inconspicuous luxury - only recognisable and to be appreciated by those with educated knowledge of design history. At the time of writing, there were fewer than 10 Wright-designed residences on the market, all in the United States. Although the architect’s residential projects often command upward of US$1 million - and sometimes substantially higher - the most affordable, on Chicago’s South Side, is a steal at less than US$150,000.

Wisconsin-born Wright believed in designing buildings where the needs of human habitation and the environment existed in harmony, a philosophy he called “organic architecture". This life-affirming approach was best exemplified by Fallingwater, which was constructed over a waterfall in a woodland setting. In 2008, the house was included in the Smithsonian Magazine’s global “life list" of “28 places to see before you die".

Most famously, Wright was the pioneer in the Prairie School of architecture, instantly identifiable by bold horizontal lines evoking the wide, flat, treeless expanses of the American prairies. Other characteristics of that modernist style were flat or gently sloping roofs with broad overhanging eaves, thoughtful integration with the natural landscape and strict discipline in the use of ornament.

Wright took his quest to create an indigenous architectural style further in the 1930s, when he developed the concept of “Usonia" - his all-encompassing vision for a utopian United States that included everything from the planning of cities and the architecture of buildings to interior design (he not only had a hand in his building’s interiors, but also in the furniture within and colour palettes for decor). He coined the adjective “Usonian" for his New World ideas, which would shake off the architectural traditions of classical Europe.

Fortunately, the Wright-designed homes now on the market include Prairie School masterworks and rare Usonian treasures, as well as some of his earliest creative forays, including a house with Japanese influences. There’s even an extraordinary Arizona residence that could be viewed as a small-scale precursor to the Guggenheim, with a cantilevered spiral walk-up entrance ramp.

For Architecture Buffs,to Possess and Live in a Wright Masterpiece Would Be the Stuff of Dreams

[caption id="attachment_208728" align="alignnone" width="1549"] The Compact Avery Coonley Playhouse in Riverside, Illinois, a Steal at US$650,000.[/caption]

Finally, while it perhaps takes an architecture aficionado to appreciate “the Wright stuff", that can have a biZarre impact on asking prices. Should a particularly exquisite example of Wright’s genius arrive to market, it’s likely to be listed for a pretty penny more than a similar-sized property in a similar location by a lesser-name architect. Then again, maybe not.

In April of this year, the Chicago Tribune newspaper reported that a Wright-designed, Prairie-style house in the suburb of Elmhurst, where many older properties are being razed for redevelopment, sold for less than the value of the land it sits on. Built in 1901 and known as the FB Henderson House after its original owner, the five-bedroom, 5,500-square-foot residence features one commodious in-line space subtly divided into library, living room and dining room, a large veranda off the living room that overlooks landscaped grounds, more than 80 Wright-designed stained-glass windows and three brick fireplaces.

The conservation-minded sellers were determined to hand over their house to a buyer who would occupy and not demolish it. They originally put it on the market in 2007 for US$2 million, settling 13 years later for just US$825,000.

Completed in 1952 in Phoenix, Arizona, the three-bedroom, four-bath David and Gladys Wright House (it was built for the architect’s son and daughter-in-law) covers 2,200 square feet and is set on 2.4 hectares of private land set against a sweeping backdrop of Camelback Mountain.

Rendered in concrete bricks, the stilted house - which is offered for sale by Arizona property agent Bob Hassett (bobhassett.com) for US$9,999,999 - is a rare example of Wright’s late-career rounded style, which reached its apex with the Guggenheim. The property was described in a 1955 issue of House Beautiful magazine as “a modern castle in the air".

The house’s interior features custom-designed, hand-cut furnishings in Philippine mahogany and reproductions of the signature “March Balloons" carpet originally designed by Wright for the living room. An additional 360-square-foot detached guesthouse in the property’s grounds has recently been restored, while application for Historic Preservation - Landmark status is pending with the City of Phoenix.

[caption id="attachment_208731" align="alignnone" width="1509"] Exterior of the Frieda and Henry J Neils House in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Which is currently on offer at US$2.75 Million[/caption]

In Minneapolis, Minnesota, the angular and asymmetrical Frieda and Henry J Neils House was designed in 1951 for a local stone and architectural-materials distributor, and subsequently boasts ample use of marble, stone and wood. Meticulously cared for, the property has only ever had two owners and has been on the market since 2018, originally at US$3.4million, though Lakes Sotheby’s International Realty (lakessothebysrealty.com) is now asking for US$2.75 million.

Set in 21,780 square feet of grounds and overlooking the area’s landmark Cedar Lake, the house extends over 2,511 square feet and has an L-shaped layout (typically Wright and sometimes described as “peak Usonian"), as well as many large floor-to-ceiling window expanses, integrated furniture pieces designed by the architect and Wright’s signature “Cherokee red" concrete floors.

Built in 1955, the Wright-designed William L Thaxton Jr House in Texas’s Bunker Hill Village originally covered a modest 1,800 square feet. Later, in 1995, that L-shaped Usonian design became the centrepiece in a grander development, when Houston-based Kirksey Architecture added a further 6,300 square feet of living space. The property, which is offered for sale by JP & Associates Realtors (jpar. com) at US$2.85 million, now has five bedrooms and six bathrooms.

A sympathetic renovation ensured the gated residence - one of only three Wright homes in all of Texas - retained many original features, including ample use of redwood and mahogany, polished concrete floors (again in Cherokee red) and plate glass, generous overhangs on roofs and a cantilevered carport.

The parallelogram-shaped pool was part of Wright’s design, and the kitchen in the original structure is largely as the architect envisioned.

The 2,200-square-foot William F Keir House, built in 1915 as part of the Wright-conceived Ravine Bluffs housing development in Glencoe, Illinois, is an early example of the Prairie School and features a wood and stucco exterior, broad overhanging eaves and an attached porte cochere. Today, it’s on sale by Coldwell Banker (coldwellbankerhomes.com) at US$724,000.

[caption id="attachment_208730" align="alignnone" width="1394"] Interior of the Prairiestyle William F Keir House in Glencoe, Illinois, Which is on sale at US$724,000[/caption]

The largely open ground floor boasts a modern kitchen and a massive family room with a brick fireplace and vaulted beamed ceiling. Three bedrooms, an office, and full bathroom with dual sinks can be found on the upper level, while a lower level adds a fourth bedroom, a steam shower and a recreation room.

Located on the grounds of Wright’s larger Avery Coonley House in Riverside, Illinois, the two-bed, two-bath Avery Coonley Playhouse was originally constructed in 1912 as a private school. Wright used the 3,503-square-foot building as testing ground for concepts - such as a cantilevered roof and ample built-in shelving - that he’d later use in his Usonian homes. It’s currently on sale by the Mike McCurry Group (themccurrygroup.com) at US$650,000.

In 1917, Prairie School architect William Drummond converted the playhouse into a home. After multiple modifications made over a century, a recent restoration returned much of the design to Wright’s original vision, the standout feature being reproduction art glass windows (the originals have been removed and placed in various museums around the world).

According to the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan, “The windows were inspired by the sights of a parade, and their shapes abstracted from balloons, confetti, and even an American flag."

Lastly comes the pre-Prairie Stephen A Foster House in Chicago’s West Pullman neighbourhood, which was built in the closing years of the 19th century, just before Wright established his own architectural practice in the city. As such, the property exhibits none of the distinctive design flourishes that the architect later made his own.

What makes this piece of genuine American design history conspicuous in the 21st century is its incredible bargain price of Just US$145,000 (Coldwell Banker; coldwellbankerhomes.com).

The post Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Residences Don’t Have to Cost a Fortune appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

On the hunt for Hong Kong's most exclusive properties and developments, we head to Happy Valley and discover an address of unusual grace and space at 23-39 Blue Pool Road.

When it comes to luxury homes and properties in Hong Kong, there are many areas in the city that spring to mind. Mid-levels, The Peak, Tai Tam and Repulse Bay are prime examples, but there are very few that match up to what I’ve seen at this particular stretch of Happy Valley.

Besides the prestigious address and the well-known racecourse, Happy Valley is a neighbourhood that offers much more than it seems. Some of the city’s most historic buildings and distinguished private schools, boutiques and restaurants make this urban area what it is today — a far cry from the marshland it once was in the 1800s.

Indeed, Happy Valley today is one of the most sought-after residential locations in Hong Kong — and it’s also home to 23-39 Blue Pool Road.

Here, instead of the high-density or high-rise living that we’re used to, stand 18 semi-detached homes. The environment is quiet and tranquil — a quality we all yearn for in our bustling city — and its location is perfectly tucked between the mountainous interior of Jardine’s Lookout and the lively districts of Wan Chai and Causeway Bay.

This long-standing collaboration project began as far back as 1992 between top developer Hang Lung Properties and the preeminent American firm of architects Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF).

The practice, which is best known for recently transforming New York’s Museum of Modern Art and designing the largest private real-estate development in US history — Hudson Yards in Manhattan — was brought in to design 23-39 Blue Pool Road. The two have also partnered on landmark projects across Hong Kong and mainland China; these include Tianjin’s Riverside 66 mall and the large-scale commercial complexes Spring City 66 in Kunming and, currently under development, Westlake 66 in Hangzhou.

[caption id="attachment_208448" align="alignnone" width="1276"] The first-floor[/caption]

James von Klemperer FAIA, RIBA, president and design principal with KPF Associates, explains that “whereas neighbourhoods in London, New York and Chicago were historically built with great three-, four- and five-storey homes, a series of houses forming its own street is a very unusual situation in Hong Kong because of the city’s topography and density”. The result seems to transport one to a different country almost, where space and openness are abundant.

Von Klemperer adds, “Semi-detached dwellings like this enable a lifestyle that’s very different from what’s normally possible in a typical Hong Kong apartment, or even a duplex.”

Upon entering the properties, more surprising elements await as all 18 houses at 23-39 Blue Pool Road feature their own private balconies, foyers, roof terraces, courtyards and garages — prized real-estate areas of outdoor space for enhanced living.

Privacy and sustainability were key considerations in the design. The facades of the properties were inspired by Chinese folding screens, which create a sense of separation between exterior and interior, but also ensure discreet views, both in and out, with a high degree of insulation, too. What’s more, a system of mechanical blinds helps to absorb sunlight and combat heat gain, the biggest culprit when it comes to energy consumption in Hong Kong buildings.

As we walk along the stretch, two spacious properties are showcased to illustrate the kind of luxury living and higher quality of life that can be enjoyed here.
The first, ouse A or The arisian Mansion, was designed by international hospitality-design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA), with young couples and individuals in mind. According to HBA, the design focuses on “a timeless interior with a French/European flair that embraces a luxurious residential quality, while the inspiration for it stemmed from an idea to “create a sophisticated lived-in space that has its own character and personality”.

From the moment you step into 35A, that character is apparent across the board. The elegant European-style space feels clean and modern, but at the same time unique, with Asian aesthetics and elements blended in.

Spacial considerations were central in the planning of the property, too, and can be seen in the way all spaces and floors have been used and maximised with minimum compromise. One such example is the expansive second-floor master bedroom, which is connected to the large master bathroom, before leading on to the generously wide walk-in wardrobe; a smart and very practical use of the space.

On the partnership with Hang Lung Properties, HBA notes that close dialogue was crucial “throughout all design phases and the success of this project”.
Bespoke finishes and layers lend touches of character with pops of colour, texture or light to the rooms. When designing the home, HBA also curated an eclectic art collection to inject a sense of refined luxury that feels as contemporary as it does opulent.

Inside, the chic colour palette takes inspiration from French blue and grey tones, highlighted with reflective accents of silver and champagne Meanwhile, Italian marble floors, exotic wood veneers, hand-blown glass chandeliers and hand-tufted carpets add distinctive details of lush textures.

As an extension of the interior, the property’s rooftop makes use of the space most connected with nature — making open-air dining and entertaining an effortless occasion, too — while a whirlpool soaking tub adds to the unparalleled living experience offered at Blue Pool Road.

We continue our tour a few doors down at 39B. Named The Crystal, the design for this house was inspired by the crystalline exterior of the development and was executed by global architectural and design studio, PDP London.

Alexandra Byrne, director of PDP London further elaborates that the interior was designed to reflect the buildings exterior within the house “This is how we came to the idea of The Crystal; a luxurious expression of that same theme,” she explains. “I was also inspired by the fabulous, urban location and didn’t want to disengage with that on the inside.”

As this was Ds first project with ang Lung Properties, Byrne talks about the passionate teams on both sides and how “Hang Lung was instrumental in managing the process smoothly and added many great ideas to the project. It was a real collaboration.”

As I walk into the home, a calming story of green threads its way through the house, designed to bring a sense of the outside in. “It’s actually not a colour I’ve used much before, so we had to search for the perfect green stone and found an amazing Verde Antigua from the Middle East,” says Bryne. “I decided to do the entire Master Bathroom in this stone, even the cabinet doors.”

Moreover, green can be found naturally from the first-floor picture window that frames the outdoor landscape, while the courtyard and rooftop provide more space for lush green environments.

Honing in on the luxury of space and privacy, PDP’s design focus sees the master suite taking up the top floor, relocating the master bedroom to the back of the property, which overlooks the development’s green wall and waterfall.

“This gave us the space for a sensational master closet, one of the biggest we’ve completed in Hong Kong, completely custom-made in walnut,” Byrne said.
The suite is also attached to a master bathroom with fluted glass screens for privacy and a large lounge with study — using the whole floor as a private escape if need be.

Over and above the individual design of the properties, it’s obvious that what Blue Pool Road offers is overall appeal — blending Western style with Asian sensibilities seamlessly in a environment that affords space, privacy, nature and the utmost in luxury like no other property in Hong Kong.

The post 23-39 Blue Pool Road is Luxury Living Redefined appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.