Wright Chat

Years ago I saw a usonian inspired house along the east side of Highway 1 between Iowa City and Mt Vernon. I "drove" along the route on Google and didn't see anything that looked like this home that has suddenly popped back into my mind. Does anyone know anything about this house? It was down off the road in a wooded area and difficult to see--and that's all I recall. Anyone?? Anyone??

I drive through/by Iowa City on every trip to Oskaloosa, but haven't made the drive up highway 1. I'll try and do that next time...

I "drove" the length from Iowa City to Mount Vernon, and did not see anything that looked even vaguely Usonian, just a lot of typical Midwest farm houses and several 50s ranch.

Were you in a silver Toyota? I waved passing through Solon, but got no response.

I have had a similar perplexing problem. In my home town, I know beyond any doubt that there was an A&C house on 4th Avenue, but try as I may, I cannot find it, nor any evidence that it has been demolished or remodeled beyond recognition. Memory is a sometime thing.

On Bingmaps and Goodgle Maps I saw what looks like a ranch house on Cedar River Drive/Pitlik. Maybe that's what you saw?

OPJ, did your Usonian have a flat or pitched roof? The one Scott shows has a pitched roof, and looks like a typical MCM ranch.

That's certainly what it appears to be. But, from the highway it's pretty low and has a flatter pitched roof. This was the only one that appeared close to anything Usonian.

Thanks, Scott. Can you show a Google map that locates this house for us ?

Oak Park, could this be the one you saw ?

SDR

Of course! It is just above the Cedar River. The location is below for copy and paste.
41.8837436,-91.4610491

It looks like an upscale brick ranch with a hipped roof and attached two car garage. There are a number of these sort of ranches in Oskaloosa. They show the Wright influence, though I doubt that the floorplans, detailing, builtins, and fenestration would be as sophisticated and radical.

Here's an example in Oskaloosa . . .

http://www.ruhlhomes.com/single-family- ... nd__278694

SDR

Ha!

There are certainly more handsome versions scattered throughout the Midwest than that lonesome cowboy...

I'm thinking more like this: http://pin.it/HWVW38_

Well, there you are -- about, what, 15% closer to Wright's example ? We should see the interior of that one before saying more. Nice looking, anyway . . .


I saw this little gem in a newspaper real-estate ad, some years back. No idea today where it's located. I gave it a little juice to goose it, then. With the phon-e-stone, and that
chimney, we're maybe 25% of the way, exterior-wise, here ?

As long as you're playing around with color, try deep redwood brown, something darker than the brick for the garage, garage door, front door and upper siding.
Maybe something in this range:

http://lumberoutwest.com/wp-content/upl ... cs-018.jpg

Hmm. Could be. Somehow I'm seeing the exterior as ocher-colored plaster, though that sounds more Prairie than Usonian, I know . . .

The garage door would be boarded, as in your last example -- unless it was a plain plywood door. We're straying from Wright precedent, but that's the nature of the beast in any event ?

In this design we see more glass than in the previous ones -- so that's progress. Probably aluminum sash here ?

SDR

Here's something amusing: an article published under the Fine Homebuilding label in which an architect characterizes residential styles in the matter of their windows. In the Ranch/MCM section two versions of a generic ranch are presented, one of which -- his or her clear favorite -- demonstrates Wrightian preferences -- without mentioning Wright by name:

http://www.finehomebuilding.com/2011/11 ... ng-windows