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American System-Built Homes
The American System-Built Homes were modest houses in a series designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. They were developed between 1911 and 1917 to fulfill his interest in affordable housing but were sold commercially for just 14 months. The Wright archives include 973 drawings and hundreds of reference materials, the largest collection of any of single Wright project. Wright cancelled the project in July 1917 by successfully suing his partner Arthur Richards for payments due and didn't speak of the program again. The designs were standardized and modular, so customers could choose from one hundred and twenty nine models on seven floorplans and three roof styles. Most materials were prepared and organized at Arthur Richards' lumber yard, so there was less waste and specialized labor needed for construction. Milled and marked materials were delivered to the work site for cutting and assembly by a carpenter. Windows, doors and some cabinetry were built at the yard. Frames, shelves, trim and some fixtures were cut and assembled on site. Most wood parts had a part number and corresponding instructions and drawings for joining, fit and finish. Richards' yard also supplied plaster, concrete, paint and hardware.
To minimize materials and job site labor, Wright used twenty-four inch (on center) distances between studs and oversized joists and a commercially available, pre-milled structural lath called "Byrkit" to bridge unsupported sections. These choices enabled standardized 21' 1/2" wide casement windows from 26 to 64 inches high to be hung between studs without need for headers. Oversized 12 by 2 inch floor and ceiling joists and Byrkit lath are key identifying features in the search for Wright's ASBHs lost or forgotten.
Many extant homes remain in private hands and an ad hoc homeowners group gathers to share ideas. Six structures are located in a federal historic district in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and others have been designated Chicago Landmarks in Chicago, Illinois.
In 1911, Arthur L. Richards and a partner contracted with Frank Lloyd Wright to design a hotel in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and Richards learned of Wright's idea to offer a family of residential housing designs that would share style, parts and pieces.
In 1914, the young architect Russell Barr Williamson joined Frank Lloyd Wright's studio and was tasked as the main draftsperson on the project. Williamson kept a register of models and features and was responsible for creating and issuing the construction drawings required by a contractor to build a house, when one was sold.
In 1914-15, Richards purchased four designs and built six buildings in a demonstration neighborhood and investment in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, now called the "Burnham Block", for short. In 1916, Wright and Richards signed a commercial contract giving Richards the exclusive rights to manufacture and distribute the homes and Wright the job of design and specification. Richards sold franchises to market the homes and planned to allow only approved contractors to build them, though some homes were built independently. Richards had offices in Milwaukee, the Chicago area, Champaign, Decatur and Gary. The customer purchased a completed home, sometimes directly from The Richards Company, or alternatively, from speculators to whom Richards had sold plans and materials.
In July, 1917, Wright, dissatisfied with Richards, fearing loss of intellectual property, and with World War I as cover, sued for nonpayment of royalties and fees, and the project came to an end, though the court found that home construction started before ruling could be completed.
Williamson was let go or left Wright's studio when the project was cancelled and then teamed with Richards to continue designing and selling Prairie School and more conventionally designed homes using standardized practices under the short-lived brand "American Renaissance Homes", Richards Real Estate and other companies. Wright, meanwhile, walked away from Prairie Architecture to focus on and finish his Imperial Hotel, Tokyo project and transition his own designs to include Mayan and Asian influences.
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American System-Built Homes
The American System-Built Homes were modest houses in a series designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. They were developed between 1911 and 1917 to fulfill his interest in affordable housing but were sold commercially for just 14 months. The Wright archives include 973 drawings and hundreds of reference materials, the largest collection of any of single Wright project. Wright cancelled the project in July 1917 by successfully suing his partner Arthur Richards for payments due and didn't speak of the program again. The designs were standardized and modular, so customers could choose from one hundred and twenty nine models on seven floorplans and three roof styles. Most materials were prepared and organized at Arthur Richards' lumber yard, so there was less waste and specialized labor needed for construction. Milled and marked materials were delivered to the work site for cutting and assembly by a carpenter. Windows, doors and some cabinetry were built at the yard. Frames, shelves, trim and some fixtures were cut and assembled on site. Most wood parts had a part number and corresponding instructions and drawings for joining, fit and finish. Richards' yard also supplied plaster, concrete, paint and hardware.
To minimize materials and job site labor, Wright used twenty-four inch (on center) distances between studs and oversized joists and a commercially available, pre-milled structural lath called "Byrkit" to bridge unsupported sections. These choices enabled standardized 21' 1/2" wide casement windows from 26 to 64 inches high to be hung between studs without need for headers. Oversized 12 by 2 inch floor and ceiling joists and Byrkit lath are key identifying features in the search for Wright's ASBHs lost or forgotten.
Many extant homes remain in private hands and an ad hoc homeowners group gathers to share ideas. Six structures are located in a federal historic district in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and others have been designated Chicago Landmarks in Chicago, Illinois.
In 1911, Arthur L. Richards and a partner contracted with Frank Lloyd Wright to design a hotel in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and Richards learned of Wright's idea to offer a family of residential housing designs that would share style, parts and pieces.
In 1914, the young architect Russell Barr Williamson joined Frank Lloyd Wright's studio and was tasked as the main draftsperson on the project. Williamson kept a register of models and features and was responsible for creating and issuing the construction drawings required by a contractor to build a house, when one was sold.
In 1914-15, Richards purchased four designs and built six buildings in a demonstration neighborhood and investment in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, now called the "Burnham Block", for short. In 1916, Wright and Richards signed a commercial contract giving Richards the exclusive rights to manufacture and distribute the homes and Wright the job of design and specification. Richards sold franchises to market the homes and planned to allow only approved contractors to build them, though some homes were built independently. Richards had offices in Milwaukee, the Chicago area, Champaign, Decatur and Gary. The customer purchased a completed home, sometimes directly from The Richards Company, or alternatively, from speculators to whom Richards had sold plans and materials.
In July, 1917, Wright, dissatisfied with Richards, fearing loss of intellectual property, and with World War I as cover, sued for nonpayment of royalties and fees, and the project came to an end, though the court found that home construction started before ruling could be completed.
Williamson was let go or left Wright's studio when the project was cancelled and then teamed with Richards to continue designing and selling Prairie School and more conventionally designed homes using standardized practices under the short-lived brand "American Renaissance Homes", Richards Real Estate and other companies. Wright, meanwhile, walked away from Prairie Architecture to focus on and finish his Imperial Hotel, Tokyo project and transition his own designs to include Mayan and Asian influences.