Complete Mid-Century House And Contents Go Under The Hammer
A campaign has been launched to save a handicapped-accessible Frank Lloyd Wright home in Rockford, Illinois and convert it into a museum. The newly-formed preservation society is calling on the community to help buy the home and keep the original contents together as a collection. It’s a vital part of the town’s history and would attract tourists, the local Registar Star reported. The Laurent House Foundation, founded about two years ago, has been meeting and fundraising in the hopes of placing the winning bid.
The house built 1949 -1952 was described by Wright as a ‘little gem.'” It was commissioned and built for Kenneth Laurent, a World War II veteran, injured in battle. His wheelchair disability featured in the design of the house, which contained wide rounded hallways and low fixtures and fittings. The sale will help Laurent and his wife to move to an assisted living facility. The six-room ranch style property sits on 1.2 acres of thickly-wooded land, will be auctioned off by Wright Auction House in Chicago Dec. 15, and is expected to bring between 700,000 -900,000 USD.
The property features three bedrooms and two bathrooms, it has flowing and gently curved spaces, perfect for family living. It displays a custom made interior design, with several valuable masterpieces Including Wright designed furniture, ironwork, lighting all included in the sale. Some of the items sold with the home, are a pair of barrel chairs, panel armchairs, six hassocks, various tables, wrought iron fireplace grates, slatted wall lights and decorative screens. This is a one-of-a-kind residence and a rare opertunity to purchase a piece of design history.
