Frank Lloyd Wright's Final House Built 60+ Years After His Death and Opened for Rent
Blueprints for the residential commission were found on his desk following his passing in 1959, remaining unrealized until now.
Legendary American architect Frank Lloyd Wright built the bulk of his unique modernist buildings and homes in the first half of the 20th century. However, Wright’s final design, discovered posthumously in his desk in 1959, was only erected in 2023 after a private buyer acquired the original site. The house labeled “Project #5909” has been dubbed the RiverRock House, per the original patron’s intent, and is available for overnight stays.
The single-story home reflects the general hallmarks of Wright’s “Usonian” style, inspired by the wide open landscapes of the United States, manifesting on horizontally oriented site-specific structures. Large windows, wood and stone interiors, and atypical layouts are ever-present at RiverRock, resembling famous projects like the Jacobs House and Fallingwater. Located in Willoughby Hills, Ohio, the RiverRock project uses local stones from the Chagrin River, an instruction specified in the original plans.
Even today, Wright’s homes remain highly sought by architectural enthusiasts, selling for millions of US dollars. Recently, designer Marc Jacobs unveiled his restored Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home in Westchester, NY, which he purchased for approximately $9.17 million USD in 2019 according to Dwell. In early 2024, Wright’s Tirranna House in New Canaan, Connecticut sold for $6.1 million USD.
However, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation isn’t exactly enthusiastic about certain structural changes to RiverRock that had to be made to meet contemporary codes. According to Wallpaper, the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy has criticized RiverRock’s authenticity for deviating too far from the original plans to be considered a true ‘Wright.’
Visitors can see the house for themselves now and book an overnight stay by visiting the official RiverRock website.
