I recently picked up a copy of a 1993 PBS documentary entitled "Three Wright Eras: places for living, work, worship". The first segment about living, featured an American System-Built Duplex that has been restored as a single family home. The street that this home is on, is the longest stretch of FLLW homes in the world. I had read about these before, but to actually be able to see inside one was quite fascinating.
Cost efficient. Beautiful. Individual. The American System-Built Homes were designed as one of Wright's first attempts at creating affordable housing of taste and style. They were a scaled down version of the grand homes he designed for wealthy clients. It truly was a challenge that sparked his imagination. This was a project of passion.
It's important to note that these homes were a collaboration between Wright and a Milwaukee real estate developer named Arthur Richards. As a result, many feel that these structures are not authentically Wright. However, these homes were a project that meant a great deal to him and the same ideas he addressed here would be a challenge he'd continually return to throughout his career. Wright produced more than 900 working drawings and sketches of various designs for this system of homes. It is the largest portfolio of drawings in the Frank Lloyd Wright archives! Sadly, America entered WWI soon after these were built and the broader concept never caught on due to lack of materials that were being diverted to the war effort.
After digging a bit, I discovered today that the Frank Lloyd Wright Wisconsin Program has purchased two of these South-side Milwaukee structures. There are plans for restoration and public access with a goal of 2007 for tours and regular events. You can read more details here and here.
If you really enjoy details, check out the Historic Designation report for this neighborhood here. There are also some drawings from a Historic Survey which are fun!
Photos courtesy: www.WrightInWisconsin.org & FLLW Companion CD-ROM
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