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Historic Frank Lloyd Wright Home in Kankakee Sells for $449,000
A notable residential property in Kankakee, Illinois, designed by the iconic architect Frank Lloyd Wright, has recently been sold for $449,000. This transaction, reported by Crain’s Chicago Business, marks the first time the home has changed hands since 1976.
Constructed in 1900, the residence is one of Wright’s earliest commissions and reflects the initial stages of his revolutionary architectural style. Despite its historical significance, the house had remained largely private, rarely being seen by the public due to the former owners’ preference for seclusion.
“This was truly a family home, and the homeowners were very private people, so few guests have been in the house in the last 50 years,” stated Victoria Krause Schutte of @Properties, Christie’s International Realty, who facilitated the sale for both buyer and seller. The sale provided a unique opportunity for prospective buyers to view images of the interior, which had not been available to the public previously.
The interior features a living room dominated by a central hearth, a hallmark of Wright’s design style, accompanied by stylish alcove units on either side.
Known as the Warren Hickox house, this property stands alongside another of Wright’s works, the renowned Bradley House. The two homes were commissioned at the turn of the 20th century by a brother and sister, alongside their spouses. The larger Bradley House was constructed for B. Harley Bradley and his wife, Anna Hickox Bradley, while the Warren Hickox House was designed for Anna’s brother, Warren, and his wife, Laura. Although the Bradley House is often credited as Wright’s first Prairie home and receives more recognition, the Warren Hickox House shares many distinctive features and holds its own significance within Wright’s portfolio.
As the Kankakee area continues to evolve, the sale of this architecturally significant property not only preserves an important piece of history but also sets an inspiring precedent for the appreciation of Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy in residential design.
Source
www.architecturaldigest.com