Frank Lloyd Wright's Winslow House Hit Market For First Time In 60 Years

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Dec 5, 2013 5:00PM



Photo by Ann Fisher via Chicagoist Flickr pool

It's not everyday that one of Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece homes is for sale. The Winslow House, located in suburban River Forest, is hitting the market for $2.4 million. This is the first time in nearly 60 years that the home is for sale.

Referred to by the name of original owner William Winslow, the Winslow House was one of Wright's first solo commissions. Built in 1893, the home still retains some elements associated with Wright's mentor, Louis Sullivan. In fact, Winslow knew Wright through Sullivan as his firm made the ornamental ironwork Sullivan designed for projects such as the Carson, Pirie & Scott department store (now Sullivan Center) on State Street.

The home's facade is notable for its orange Roman brick first floor and recessed dark terra cotta banding on the second story. The front entrance is surrounded by ornamental designs evocative of Sullivan's work. But the use of low, long Roman brick, the horizontal design elements and the low-pitched roof with wide overhangs foreshadowed key design principals of Wright's "Prairie Style" that defined his career. Considered to be one of Wright's best works, the home was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.

The Winslow home had been owned since 1955 by commercial jingle writer Bill Walker and his wife June. Mr. Walker passed away in 1994 but his wife remained in the home until her recent death. Their children have decided to put the home up for sale. For more photos of the home's exterior detail and the interior, check out Chicago Magazine's gallery.