The Bernard Schwartz House in Two Rivers, WI allows visitors to experience the work of Frank Lloyd Wright in the way it was intended: to live in it (even if just for a few days). The house attracts guests from all over the world who are eager to book their own private, short-term rental. Built in 1939, the Schwartz house was originally designed as a model "dream house" for a Life Magazine article. Starting in February, frequent tours will be available during the upcoming exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum, "Frank Lloyd Wright: Organic Architecture in the 21st Century."
Visit TheSchwartzHouse.com to learn more and book your stay.
AAO spoke with Wright enthusiast and Schwartz House co-owner Michael Ditmer about sharing the dream of living in a Wright house.
Katherine Stalker, AAO: How did you come to own and rent out the Schwartz House?
Michael Ditmer, Schwartz House: I’ve been a Frank Lloyd Wright enthusiast ever since I visited Taliesin in Spring Green, Wisconsin, and I’ve always dreamed of owning a house designed by Wright. I was fortunate enough to find the Schwartz House sale listed on SaveWright.org, and have owned it for seven years now.
KS: Does a portion of the rental fee go to restoration work?
MD: I knew it would be an expensive venture to own and restore a Frank Lloyd Wright house. There was a fair amount of deferred maintenance and after receiving a cost estimate, we knew what we were getting into. Yes, the rental money from the guests assists in paying for the restoration. But I wanted to offer visitors the experience of living in a Wright house, which is very different from taking a half hour guided tour, where everyone has to wear booties and you’re not allowed to touch anything.
KS: What state was the building in when you acquired it?
MD: The interior was in good shape, almost pristine compared to the condition of some of Wright’s other homes. We restored the cypress woodwork to its original luster. On the exterior, we had to immediately replace the roof, and we chose to match the original roof design and materials. We’re working on other smaller projects, as well. In truth, owning a Wright house is a life-long commitment to restoration and preservation.
KS: Has the condition of the house suffered from the constant turnover of inhabitants?
MD: First of all, it is made mostly of durable materials, like brick and the red concrete floor. Wright did design furniture specifically for the house, but only the bedframe exists from that. We are in the process of building his designs for a couch and reading desk, and of course wear-and-tear is more acceptable with a reproduction piece of furniture. For the most part, our guests are there because they appreciate Wright’s legacy, so they tend to treat the house with care. Secondly, it is not constantly occupied. We are booked for about 180 days a year, which allows us time in the off days to work on the restoration.
KS: What sort of feedback have you received from guests?
MD: Many people talk about how it is a dream come true to sleep in a house designed by Wright. One nine-year-old even commented on how the pattern that the sun makes coming through the clerestory windows was like a spiritual experience. Of course we get some comments like “Why don’t you have a microwave?” but that is not what we’re about. This is about an experience of going back in time and immersing yourself in a Usonian house.
KS: How would you describe a typical guest?
MD: I’d say we get about 30% architects or people in related fields. Many people come as a weekend retreat from Chicago, but we also have a fair amount of people from across the country and around the world. We get quite a few people from the UK and Japan, and we’ve had guests from Australia, France, and the Czech Republic, as well.
KS: What sets this house apart from other Wright houses?
MD: This house was designed for a 1938 Life Magazine “Dream House” article. Four families were selected that represented different income ranges. Each family had two houses designed for them: a modern one and a traditional one. The Blackbourn family selected the modern option designed by Wright. Unfortunately, the bank would not finance such an unconventional design and so they built the traditional option. A man named Bernard Schwartz read the article and contacted Wright about designing a house. This gave Wright the opportunity to build his “Dream House” with some modifications. It does differ from the standard Usonian model because it is larger and has a second story.
KS: Do you offer tours or other outreach programs as well as renting it out?
MD: We work with the community of Two Rivers to host fundraising events, groups of students, and special tours. They are, of course, thrilled about the media attention that the Schwartz House has given the town. We offer public tours on a bi-monthly basis. However, we will be increasing the frequency during the upcoming exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum, “Frank Lloyd Wright: Organic Architecture in the 21st Century.”
