Isadore J. Zimmerman House- Manchester,NH 1950-

Jeff Myers · Post by **Jeff Myers** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 9:38 am

With a little bit of help from all on this wonderful home is there more information out there. I have a few photos from both Frank Lloyd Wright Master Builder and Wright Sized houses. I think this home is a great use of Eye Music and one of my favorite uses of a small spaces.
This is also one of my favorite features of the home being the living room windows that have a floating inner window(I couldn't find a better term).

Jeff

Unbrook · Post by **Unbrook** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 12:20 pm

Try the Currier Museum of Art website. I just checked and they have a fairly good series of photos of the house.

Roderick Grant · Post by **Roderick Grant** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 12:22 pm

Those living room windows were one of the "adjustments" John Geiger did on site to the original design. They are mostly his work.

Jeff Myers · Post by **Jeff Myers** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:09 pm

Thanks. I contacted the museum and will be awaiting a reply from the person who oversees the archives. Can't wait to start on something so beautiful again as always it is fun and it is educational all at once.

Education Professor · Post by **Education Professor** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 9:47 pm

Jeff....the museum has published a very nice and rather inexpensive booklet about the home. I'm sure copies of it are still available for purchase.

dtc · Post by **dtc** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 5:36 am

Sounds like the Zimmerman house will be your next project.
You will have fun I'm sure!

dtc

Jeff Myers · Post by **Jeff Myers** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 11:57 am

Well a week later no one got back with me, still I will wait. Meantime if anyone has info or more text or at least the Monograph it would be in please post. I feel like I am doing this blind but thanks to my training I think I may have it but still confirmation would be of great help.

Jeff
JAT

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Tue Aug 20, 2013 12:58 pm

Saw the Zimmerman House for the first time last week. Got to be one of the best renovations of a Wright house anywhere. I especially liked the way the early Taleisin breakthrough's are present here, surprising in a late house ...?

I know I sound like a broken record on this particular issue but would LOVE to see a roof framing plan for this house. Currier should add some of those renovation drawings to that little book they sell. (oh well).

Evidently Gieger had a lot of time on his hands in Manchester. The wood matching in this house gorgeous, nail or screw connections covered by wood pegs throughout.

Placement on the the lot pretty damn clever too.

peterm · Post by **peterm** » Tue Aug 20, 2013 1:20 pm

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=s1r6_vLQEv0

Their exquisite taste in decorating and collecting should be noted, too...

They commissioned Wright after deciding that they "...wished to be done with living in the 18th century."

victoriad · Post by **victoriad** » Tue Aug 20, 2013 2:27 pm

Hi, peterm,

That link works on a mobile device, but not on my Mac...?

Inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Zimmermans became enthusiastic art collectors whose only imperative was that every piece "looks right in the house." Many of their more valuable acquisitions now reside in the Currier Museum.

Tom,

What are the "early Taliesin breakthroughs" you refer to?

Glad you enjoyed the house. I believe there is a roof framing plan in the archives, which are publicly accessible by appointment. Next time...

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Tue Aug 20, 2013 3:10 pm

Vrd, "early Taliesin breakthroughs" okay, I'm really just thinking out loud here. Your question made me actually think about my remark and on second thought maybe I should just say "early breakthroughs", but the Zimmerman house struck me as being very close to the Wiley House and the studio space and living room at Taleisin in feel. It has a lot to do with the roof and the simplicity of the planning and detailing, but I'm gonna think more about this to see if I can find a more specific answer.

Unbrook · Post by **Unbrook** » Tue Aug 20, 2013 6:25 pm

The interiors at Zimmerman have a dignified provenance. Some of the fabrics were acquired through America House in New York. America House was a showcase for American crafts and their contact was Francis Wright, daughter of the architect.

peterm · Post by **peterm** » Tue Aug 20, 2013 6:29 pm

I'm fairly certain that some of the studio ceramic pieces are Natzlers:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/archive/200705A41.html

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Tue Aug 20, 2013 7:29 pm

I'm happy to learn, via Roderick's note above, of the source of the interesting LR windows at Zimmerman.

http://thephoenix.com/boston/arts/88245-simple-gifts/

They remind me of a precedent in Wright's work, namely windows in the Bogk residence. There may be other instances, as well ?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/twistedart/6350488114/

In each case, a sash floats free within the larger structural opening.

SDR

Unbrook · Post by **Unbrook** » Tue Aug 20, 2013 7:37 pm

The collection inventory of the Currier Museum lists two Natzlers-not donated by the Zimmermans. But the collection does list a few Bernard Leach pieces and many by Edwin Scheiver.