The American System-Built Homes were modest houses in a series designed by architectFrank Lloyd Wright. They were developed between 1911 and 1917 to fulfill his interest in affordable housing. Wright was devoted to the idea of providing beautiful yet affordable homes to the public. The Wright archives include 973 drawings and hundreds of reference materials, the largest collection of any of single Wright project. Wright cancelled the project in 1917 by successfully suing his partner, Arthur Richards, for payments due and didn't speak of the program again.[2][3] The designs were standardized, and customers could choose from one hundred and twenty nine models on seven floorpans.[3] Because of this standardization, the lumber could be milled at a factory, thereby cutting down on both waste and the amount of skilled labor needed for construction.[4] The buildings are often termed prefabricated homes, but they were not, since the lumber was milled to shapes at the factory, packaged along with all other components, and delivered to the work site for construction. Every milled profile had a part number and corresponding instructions and drawings for the carpenter. [5][3] Some are located in a federal historic district in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and others have been designated Chicago Landmarks in Chicago, Illinois.
Manufacture and sales
In 1911, Arthur L. Richards and a partner contracted with Frank Lloyd Wright to design a hotel in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. After this, Richards learned of Wright's new American System-Built Homes, and in 1914 began construction on six as demonstrator models. Richards gained the exclusive rights to manufacture and distribute the homes in 1916.[3] He sold franchises to market the homes, and planned to allow only approved contractors to build them, though some homes were built independently. Richards had offices in Milwaukee, the Chicago area, Champaign, Decatur and Gary. The Richards Company milled the lumber and fabricated cabinets, doors and windows, and packaged all the materials needed for construction, including plaster, paint, windows, hardware and fixtures. The customer purchased a completed home, sometimes directly from The Richards Company, or alternatively, from speculators to whom Richards had sold plans.[5][3]
In 1914, the young architect Russell Barr Williamson joined Frank Lloyd Wright's studio and was tasked as the main draftsperson on the project. Williamson kept a register of models and features and was responsible for creating and issuing the construction drawings required by a contractor to build a house, when one was sold. Williamson was let go or left Wright's studio when the project was cancelled. Soon after the cancellation of the American System-Built Homes project, Williamson teamed with Richards to continue designing and selling Prairie School and more conventionally-designed modest homes using standardized practices under the short-lived brand "American Renaissance Homes". Wright, meanwhile, walked away from the Prairie School to focus on his Imperial Hotel, Tokyo project and transition his own designs to include Mayan and Asian influences.[3]
In July, 1917, Wright, dissatisfied with Richards and with World War I as cover, sued for nonpayment of royalties and fees, and the project came to an end, though the court found that home construction started before ruling could be completed. It is believed that about 25 System-Built Homes were constructed, but only about 12 are believed to have survived. They can be found in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa.[5]
Prototype Burnham Street Historic District, Milwaukee
Three of the six American System-Built Homes in the Burnham Street Historic District, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The original six demonstrator homes built in the Burnham Park neighborhood of Milwaukee by Arthur Richards were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.[6] There are four model 7a duplexes, a model B1 bungalow,[7] the only example of its kind, and a model C3 bungalow. It is the only grouping of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed homes that includes both duplexes and single-family dwellings. Three of the homes have been purchased by the Frank Lloyd Wright Wisconsin Program. The B1 bungalow was restored in 2010, with one of the duplexes to follow. They are located in the 2700 block of West Burnham Street, at South Layton Boulevard.[5][8]
The Burnham Block homes designs, bought directly by Richards from Wright in 1915, served as a testing ground for the systems that would be created by Wright and his assistant Williamson when the program was commercialized with a formal contract and branding in 1916. Therefore, details found in the prototype homes and the commercial homes are different. Elements found in the Burnham block but not in commercial homes can be seen as experimental. Elements found in commercial homes can be seen as refinements of the system.[3]
2714 W Burnham St Model B1 bungalow, taken August 2017.
American System Built Homes in the Burnham Street District:[5]
Arthur L. Richards Duplex Apartments - referred to as either "Model 7a Duplexes", "Model C" or "Model F" - 4 units, 3 identical units (2720-2730 West Burnham), the 4th unit (2732-2734 West Burnham) is a mirror image. The second house from the west has been converted to a single family home. Built 1915.[9]
Arthur L. Richards Small House - "Model B1" or "Cottage B"[8] located at 2714 West Burnham Street. Built 1915.[10]
Richards Bungalow - "Model C3" or "Cottage A"[8] located at 1835 South Layton Boulevard. Built 1915.[11] This house was resurfaced in precast coral stone veneer in 1956.
The Arthur R Munkwitz Duplex Apartments were pair of four-unit apartment buildings built in 1916. The Munkwitz Duplexes were based on a different System Built plan and constructed on 1102-1112 N. 27th St - a few blocks north of the Burnham Street Historic District. They were demolished in 1973.[5]
American System-Built Houses, Chicago
On July 13, 1994, the Mayor and City Council of Chicago designated two System-Built Homes as Chicago Landmarks. Built in 1917, they are located at 10410 (the Guy C. Smith House) and 10541 S. Hoyne Avenue (the H. Howard Hyde House).[12] The first, at 10410 Hoyne, was intended to be the first of a subdivision of the homes and was built and sold speculatively. Both the Smith and Hyde Houses are two story, single-family units.
Guy C. Smith House
H. Howard Hyde House
Other American System-Built Homes
Hunt House IIReconstruction rendering of the Wynant HouseElizabeth Murphy House - American System-Built Home - Model A203
Bungalow style units based on the "C3" or "Cottage A" design:
In 1999 it was announced that an update of the American System-Built Homes would be part of a renewal of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Taliesin Associated Architects were contracted to design new homes based on the original designs. They were expected to sell for $125,000 to US$150,000, similar to the originals in that the cost was relatively low.[13]
Recently identified but not verified
The Thomas E. Sullivan House
In 2008, Wright scholar, William Allin Storrer unveiled his controversial 29 undiscovered Frank Lloyd Wright works. One of these houses was the Thomas E. Sullivan House at 336 Gregory Avenue in Wilmette, Illinois, next door to the Burleigh House at 330 Gregory Ave. In 1989, Storrer had previously identified the 1916 house as the work of John S. Van Bergen even though the residence does not appear in Martin Hackl's complete catalog, The Works of John S. Van Bergen, Architect. In his 2008 findings, Storrer revised his claim, then stating that the Sullivan House was actually an American System-Built Home with a dining room addition by Van Bergen.[14] Excluding the alleged addition, the main block of the Sullivan House is nearly identical to that of the Wynant House; only the entrance and garage orientation, a missing bedroom above the garage, and differences in trim details distinguish these two residences. Storrer's assertion is further substantiated by a drawing from the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation which shows Model D-101 with the Sullivan House entrance and without the Wynant House garage wing.[15]
Storrer also identified three potential single-story American System-Built Homes in Berwyn, Illinois. One, the Chester Bragg House (1916), is located at the 6644 34th Street at the corner of Wesley Avenue and has a Model B1 plan.[14][16]
[1] is an example of Wright's plans and drawings that the Wisconsin Historical Society has online. To see others, enter "American System-Built" in the Search at the top of that page.
