An Updated Usonian Home Designed by a Frank Lloyd Wright Apprentice Lists For Under $5M
Architect David Henken, apprentice to Frank Lloyd Wright, designed and built this Usonian home in Bronxville, New York, in 1950.
Most notably, Henken had worked with Wright on the Usonia Historic District in Westchester County, New York, where Wright designed three of 47 homes and Henken, who was the primary coordinator of the project, designed more than a quarter of the houses himself.
The current property on offer at 1 Governors Road was respectfully expanded and modernized in 2012 by architect Markus Dochantschi, founder of studioMDA and the former head of Zaha Hadid Architects in New York.
The Usonian-style house sits on a hill with views of the natural surroundings suffusing every room.
In true Wright fashion, the home has a strong indoor/outdoor connection: floor-to-ceiling windows integrate the interior spaces with the natural surroundings, and the flooring runs from inside to outside. There are butt-glass windows and long roof overhangs, and most of the rooms offer direct access to exterior decks and private outdoor areas.
Some of the highlights of the home include a cozy, sunken living room; an updated kitchen; and a light-filled master bath. And although this home is more luxurious than the typical Usonian model, the original spirit of the design remains. "The language of Frank Lloyd Wright is still contemporary," says Dochantschi. "[The house] still has the warmth and the character that Frank Lloyd Wright originally had in his buildings."
The sunken living room leads to a large outdoor deck.
A brick-inlay fireplace creates a cozy, light-filled nook.
The living room connects to the deck. Full-height windows with butt-glass corners provide tree-filled views.
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One of the highlights of the home is the luxurious, modern kitchen which was enlarged and updated during the renovation.
Having an open dining/kitchen area allows for easy entertaining.
Most of the south-facing windows are floor-to-ceiling, maximizing sunlight during the winter. Windows on the northern side are smaller, minimizing the loss of heat on that side of the home.
The master bedroom features its own private deck.
The updated master bath is flooded with natural light thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows and a skylight above. The surrounding trees provide users with privacy.
The home has a total of six bedrooms.
There are five-and-a-half baths in all.
Roof overhangs help reduce solar heat gain during the summer months.
The home sits on a .65-acre hilltop site with fantastic views and beautiful landscaping, including mature oaks, maple, elm trees, Japanese maples, and magnolias.
1 Governors Road is now being listed for $4,995,000 by Kathleen Collins of William Pitt + Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty.
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