After acquiring a Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian house, the Crystal Bridges Museum had to disassemble the New Jersey house, haul it 1,200 miles to its new Bentonville, Ark., location, and put the structure back together.
The museum has completed the difficult and meticulous task and is now set to show off its project. The Bachman Wilson House will open to the public on November 11.
A 2,000-sf, one-story home with no basement or attic, “the materials consist of concrete block, a Colorundum concrete mat, Philippine mahogany, ten feet high plate glass window wall, as well as perforated clerestory panels with the Samara design,” according to the house’s website.
During the Great Depression, Wright developed the idea of Usonian archicture. Taking the name from an altered abbreviation of “United States of North America,” the style was characterized by simple, low-cost houses meant for the middle class. Around 120 Usonian homes were built, including one for Gloria Bachman and Abraham Wilson in 1954 in New Jersey.
Despite a restoration 27 years ago, the house suffered from flooding from the nearby Millstone River. Crystal Bridges Museum purchased the home in 2013.
Related Stories
Museums | Dec 16, 2015
Gluckman Tang-designed museums could stimulate economy in North Adams, Mass.
The goal is to create a “cultural corridor” between North Adams and Williamstown, Mass.
Museums | Dec 4, 2015
Calatrava’s Milwaukee Art Museum gets handsome addition by HGA
The lakefront addition gives visitors expansive views both inside and out.
Museums | Dec 3, 2015
SANAA’s design selected for Hungary’s new National Gallery and Ludwig Museum
After months of deliberation, the Japanese firm ultimately won the tie with Snøhetta.
Museums | Nov 23, 2015
Daniel Libeskind unveils design for new Lithuanian modern art museum
Located in the national capital of Vilnius, the Modern Art Center will be home to 4,000 works of Lithuanian art.
Museums | Nov 11, 2015
MVRDV designs a ‘disco ball’ for Rotterdam
Called the Collectiegebouw (Dutch for "collection building"), the building will make public the city’s extensive art collection, and give visitors a look at how museums work backstage, according to Fast Company.
Museums | Nov 10, 2015
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum breaks ground on Collections and Conservation Center
Designed by SmithGroupJJR, the David and Fela Shapell Family Collections and Conservation Center will provide long-term, secure preservation for evidence of the Holocaust.
Museums | Nov 6, 2015
Studio Gang designs sculpted science center for the American Museum of Natural History
The Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation will hold areas where visitors can engage with high-tech tools, such as gene mapping, 3D imaging, and big data assimilation and visualization, all to learn about the current state of scientific research.
Museums | Nov 4, 2015
George Lucas museum design by MAD Architects finally gets green light
The project will go ahead with its revised, smaller-scale design.
Museums | Oct 22, 2015
Kengo Kuma’s design for cultural museum in the Philippines evokes prehistoric cave feel
The Museum of Indigenous Knowledge in Manila, will house over 4,000 years of history.
Museums | Oct 16, 2015
Renzo Piano will turn century-old Moscow power plant into art gallery
The idea is to take the GES2 power station, which was built between 1904 and 1907, and turn it into an exhibition space for the V-A-C Foundation, a Russian art organization.