Tours of Frank Lloyd Wright’s private homes

Frank Lloyd Wright might be best known for his Prairie-style homes primarily in the American Midwest and East, but the noted architect built nearly 30 homes in California, including the Hollyhock House in Barnsdall Art Park, which was just added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, along with seven other buildings by Wright.  This month, five Wright-designed private California residences will be open to the public, including several which illustrate Wright’s concept that he termed Usonian design. This “design for easy living” created informal indoor and outdoor spaces and streamlined building practices to save on costs. The horizontal nature of Wright’s designs would ultimately be very influential in the development and popularity of ranch houses in the 1950s through the 1970s. The Wilbur Pearce House and the George and Millie Ablin House are open this weekend.

Saturday and Sunday, July 13 and 14; tours start at 2:30 (additional tours through July here)

Saturday: Wilbur Pearce House, 2-5, Bradbury Hills Rd, Bradbury, CA 91008;

Sunday: George and Millie Ablin House, 4260 Country Club Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93306