FLW’s Martin House- Buffalo, NY

For years I have been meaning to visit Buffalo, New York. It’s a bit of an architectural promised land to me, with all manner of historical home styles scattered around the city. While I still haven’t made a proper Buffalo visit happen, I was recently able to do a quick overnight, which included a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House. It definitely left me wanting more: more of the city, more FLW house tours, and more of the Martin House complex. I will return.

The story here really starts in Oak Park, Illinois, where Wright maintained a home and design studio. In 1902, William E. Martin, a Chicago businessman, was so impressed with Wright’s Oak Park work, he commissioned the architect to build him a three story wood and stucco home in the neighborhood. William’s brother, Darwin, was in turn so impressed with that home, that he himself hired Wright to design a multi-house complex for him in Buffalo.

Completed between 1903 and 1907, what resulted was a residential estate Wright himself considered his opus (at least until he designed Falling Water, I suspect). Built in the Prairie Style, the complex included The Martin house, with attached pergola and conservatory, carriage house, the smaller George Barton House (built for Martin’s sister), and a gardener’s cottage.

The Darwin House, with it’s nearly unlimited budget, cost an estimated $300,000 to build, and included several hallmarks of Wright’s designs, including a massive fireplace and extensive use of art glass. Downstairs, the open floor plan included a large entry hall, a reception room, library, kitchen, and dining room; upstairs, eight bedrooms and four bathrooms.

Although beloved by both architect and owner, following the 1929 Stock Market Crash and Darwin Martin’s death in 1935, the compound proved too costly to maintain, and was abandoned by the family in 1937. Attempts were made to donate the house to the city, but all offers were rejected. The compound then sat vacant for nearly two decades, until the city took it over in a tax foreclosure sale.

Although the house was purchased in 1951 by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo from the city, it remained empty until 1955, when it was purchased by architect Sebastian Tauriello. Sadly, the house itself was converted into three apartments, and the conservatory demolished. In 1967, the home was purchased by SUNY Buffalo, who used The Martin House for the university president; the gardener’s cottage and The Barton House were sold off.

In 1992, while still owned by the university, restoration of the house began, with the goal to return the residence to its 1907 appearance. In 1994, The Barton House was reacquired, followed by the gardener’s cottage in 2006.

The $50 million restoration project was completed in 2017, and including reconstruction of the demolished carriage house, conservatory, and pergola. The complex is now owned by The Martin House Restoration Cooperation, a non-profit organization, and is open to the public as a historic house museum.