Wright Chat

Needing help with a possible FLLW cottage in Washington State. The home was at one time a vacation cottage on lake Issaqauh. The cottage was built in 1953 and is built very much in the style of the Brandes House in Issaquah. Built of rock and cypress, the home's original floor was polished aggregate. With the standard USONIA style in floor heating system. The central mass of the cottage is circular with the fireplace and chimney mass in the center of the room. The intire facing of the home that fronts the lake is glass inset in the rock facing. Its trully a pretty home. Owned by a friend who may be clueless....Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The only FLW houses in Washington state are one each in the following locations: Issaquah, Normandy Park, and Tacoma. The Brandes House in Issaquah was built in 1952. If your house is of this vintage, it is extremely unlikely that it is a new undiscovered FLW House. By the thirties FLW's staff started keeping very good records of his work. FLW's work was influential and other architects copied it to varying degrees on occassion. Also Mid-century Modern houses which were popular at the time in some circles look similar to FLW work to the casual observer.



The house that you described sounds delightful. Mid-century modern houses in many areas including Chicago are finally getting the recognition that they deserve. Unfortunately some home owners try to improve the original architecture with mindless alterations designed by the homeowner and a contractor. The best approach is to seek guidance from an architect in tackling "maintenance/ renovation projects" on the house. In general an attitude of preservation is preferrable to renovation.

For some reason, the name of the city of Issaquah was changed to Sammamish last year, so Deborah Vick changed address without moving.

Thanks Paul. I was hoping this might have been an undertaking by one of Wright's associates. I lived in Tacoma for 13 years and have seen both the Brandis house in Issaquah (Sammamish)...interesting. As well as the Chauncey L. Griggs home in Tacoma.



PDean

Dallas, TX

Milton Stricker is an architect in Seattle who apprenticed with Wright in 1951, but 1953 might be too early for him.