Dr. Alvin Miller House

Michael Shuck · Post by **Michael Shuck** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 7:55 pm

This house has always been one of my favorites. I was at http://www.peterbeers.net/interests/flw ... _house.htm and noticed in the street view photo that there appears to have been an addition to this house, or..is this a house next to it? I was unaware of any changes or additions made to the house. Can anybody enlighten me on this? When you compare it to page pages 188-193 of Wright's book, "The Natural House", it looks like it's been altered.
Mike

PS: I had to use the Irfanview program to lighten the other photos.

Ed Jarolin · Post by **Ed Jarolin** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 8:38 pm

Yes, that is an addition on the southeast side adjacent to the original study. I got to see this house (outside only) in the summer of '05 and imo the addition is nicely done. That said, I always view these changes as unfortunate though perhaps understandable due to the extremely small size of the original plan.

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 8:43 pm

The unit in the foreground, with the gridded windows, doesn't seem to exist on the original plan, nor does the semicircular drive. No mention of this in Storrer. . .

SDR

Michael Shuck · Post by **Michael Shuck** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 8:43 pm

Thanks, Ed.

Paul Ringstrom · Post by **Paul Ringstrom** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 3:29 pm

I have been in this house both before and after the addition and have talked to the current owner regarding same. This is what he told me: Wright originally designed this as a "dual house" with an octagonal addition between them because it was originally designed for a father and son who were both dentists. The octagonal portion was to be their office. The current owner obtain the plans to the original house and built the octagonal addition faithful to Wright's plans. They even opened up a closed local quarry to obtain the same stone the was used on the original. He hired a retired mason that was familiar with the technique used for laying up the stone and I was there one day when he was doing so and I had a chance to chat with him. He was very interested in making the addition match the original. The other unbuilt wing of the house would fall on the adjoining property and the current owner is awaiting the opportunity to acquire said property in order to complete it at a later date. I hope this clears up any misconceptions that may be out there.

Ed Jarolin · Post by **Ed Jarolin** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 3:45 pm

Paul,
Well this news helps make up for Keys somewhat. So, what is in the octagonal addition? I don't imagine they outfited it as a dentist's office. More bedrooms, family room? And what will they do with the 'other' house when they build it? Rental? B&B?

Paul Ringstrom · Post by **Paul Ringstrom** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 4:17 pm

In the addition they placed all the walls and doors where the blueprints indicated even when that did not make the most sense for how they were going to use the spaces. They used the rooms as bedrooms for their children, if I remember correctly. I don't know their plans for the other wing, but a FLW rental would be a grand idea. The location is quite nice with a park to the west and the river to the north.

Don Ethen · Post by **Don Ethen** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 8:30 am

I visited the house last weekend and looked inside. The interior is gutted and large fans have been operational to dry the inside. The house is now for sale with an unlisted price due to considerations. I trust the new owners will have deep enough pockets to restore suitably. What a lovely home and a beautiful location.

Michael Shuck · Post by **Michael Shuck** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 8:40 pm

Don, you are certainly right when it comes to describing the internals of the Alvin Miller house as being gutted. The outside is in surprisingly good shape. I was at the Dr. Alvin Miller house this past week and took some pics. I've not seen a lot of really clear photos of this house online, but if anyone is interested I can post some here...they're pretty much crystal clear, though I'm just an amateur with a camera. Mike

Michael Shuck · Post by **Michael Shuck** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 8:55 pm

Ironically, the model of the Dr. Alvin Miller house were at the Walter House in the Visitor's Center there. The docent told me they were on loan from the school of architecture at WU.

Michael Shuck · Post by **Michael Shuck** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 9:09 pm

Enjoy!

Michael Shuck · Post by **Michael Shuck** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 9:16 pm

I post the next one just so the reader here can see how low the soffets actually are. I'm about six feet tall:

Friend Burt on the right. He's six feet tall.

jwest · Post by **jwest** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 8:03 am

Great pics! Thanks for sharing. I wouldn't mind seeing more. Does anyone have a floor plan?

guanche · Post by **guanche** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 8:19 am

thank you for these fantastic photos... i hope you post more, and it could be posible pics of the interior could be nice

dkottum · Post by **dkottum** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 10:04 am

As originally built, this has some of the best qualities of Usonian design. Small, efficient plan, clerestory lighting, pleasant views, minimum variety of beautiful natural materials, all arranged in Wright's magically interesting space. The stone work is exemplary, not too crude nor overly worked, it has a wonderful natural appearance.

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