The Palmer House, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1950 and completed in 1952. This Usonian-style home embodies Wright’s philosophy of creating structures that harmonize with their surroundings. Its impeccable design and meticulous craftsmanship have earned it a place on the National Register of Historic Places, marking it as one of Ann Arbor’s most architecturally significant residences.
Palmer House Technical Information
- Architects: Frank Lloyd Wright
- Location: 227 Orchard Hills Dr, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Topics: Triangles
- Area: 186 m2 | 2,000 ft2
- Project Year: 1950 – 1952
- Photographs: Photographs via Airbnb
Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.
– Frank Lloyd Wright
Palmer House Photographs
Historical Context and Design Philosophy
Commissioned by William Palmer, an economics professor at the University of Michigan, and his wife Mary, a musician, the Palmer House represents a pinnacle of Wright’s residential work during his later years. The couple, inspired by Wright’s Affleck House, sought the architect to design their home on a double lot they had acquired on Ann Arbor’s east side. Wright, then in his eighties, delivered a design that historian Grant Hildebrand lauds as one of the best of Wright’s career.
The house is set on a 1.5-acre wooded hillside near the University of Michigan and the Nichols Arboretum. Its triangular geometry is a bold departure from conventional design, with the entire structure based on the equilateral triangle. This motif extends throughout the house, from the hexagonal beds to the unconventional shower, creating sculptural spaces that foster a seamless relationship between the interior and exterior.
Architectural Features
The Palmer House’s design is both striking and harmonious, blending organic materials with innovative architectural elements. Constructed of Tidewater Red Cypress and “Cranbrook brick”—named for its similarity to the bricks used by Eliel Saarinen in his Cranbrook Academy buildings—the house appears to grow naturally from the hillside. The exterior features polygonal cutouts resembling abstract birds, adding a touch of whimsical artistry to the robust structure.
One of the most defining features of the Palmer House is its central entryway, from which three wings extend. Each wing serves a distinct function: one houses the bedrooms, another the living room and terrace, and the third a smaller carport. The hipped roof enhances the house’s integration with its environment with its long, dramatic slope and wide overhangs clad in cedar shingles and copper flashing.
Inside, the house boasts many of Wright’s signature elements, including cypress paneling, a large central fireplace, and reddish concrete flooring with a leather-like finish. The meticulous attention to detail and quality craftsmanship are evident in every aspect of the home, contributing to its pristine condition even after decades of use.
Legacy and Preservation
The Palmer family lived in the house for five decades, passionately maintaining it until William Palmer’s death and subsequent sale of the property by his wife and children. In 2009, the house was purchased by Jeffrey and Kathryn Schox, who have made it available for rent as a guest house and meeting location, ensuring that Wright’s architectural legacy continues to inspire and be appreciated by new generations.
A small teahouse, designed by Wright’s protégé John Howe and built after Wright’s death in 1959, complements the main structure. This addition further underscores the house’s cohesive design philosophy and its integration with the natural landscape.
Edward Francis, a Detroit architect and long-time student of Wright’s work, emphasizes the house’s mint condition, attributing it to both Wright’s meticulous craftsmanship and the dedicated maintenance by its owners. The Palmer House stands as a beacon of Wright’s belief in organic architecture, a philosophy that seeks to unify a building with its environment, creating spaces that are not only functional but also deeply connected to the natural world.
Palmer House Plans
Palmer House Image Gallery
About Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) was an American architect, interior designer, writer, and educator who designed more than 1,000 structures over a 70-year career. Widely regarded as one of the greatest architects of all time, Wright pioneered the Prairie School movement and developed the concept of Usonian homes, which aimed to create affordable and beautiful residences. His innovative designs, such as Fallingwater and the Guggenheim Museum, emphasized harmony between the built environment and nature, a principle he termed “organic architecture.” Wright’s work profoundly influenced modern architecture, and his legacy continues to inspire architects worldwide.
Notes & Additional Credits
- Hildebrand, Grant. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Palmer House. University of Washington Press, 2007.
- Storrer, William Allin. The Frank Lloyd Wright Companion. University of Chicago Press, 2006.
- Shackman, Grace. Ann Arbor in the 20th Century (Images of America: Michigan). Arcadia Publishing, 2002.
