The Elizabeth and Rollin Furbeck House residential project, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in Oak Park, Illinois, has entered the market after 27 years of private ownership. Completed in 1898, the home marks a shift from Victorian conventions to Prairie principles, with a square plan disrupted by a central tower, flowing interiors, and Wright’s early use of large glass. Carefully modernized, the property preserves its architectural integrity while adapting to contemporary living.
The Elizabeth and Rollin Furbeck House in Oak Park, Illinois, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and completed in 1898, has been listed for $2 million (€1.87 million, £1.58 million) after 27 years in private ownership. As one of Wright’s formative works, the 5,000-square-foot residence reflects a transitional moment between his early Sullivan-influenced designs and the fully developed Prairie Style that would define his architectural identity in the following decade.
Commissioned as a wedding gift for Rollin Furbeck from his father, the house was Wright’s second project for the Furbeck family. The first was built in 1897 for Rollin’s brother George. Positioned at 515 Fair Oaks Avenue in Oak Park’s Estate Section, the property lies within the Frank Lloyd Wright-Prairie School of Architecture Historic District and is surrounded by several of Wright’s notable residential works, as well as his former home and studio.
The structure is organized on a square plan but departs from symmetry with protruding open porches on both the front and rear façades and a rear porte cochère. Its defining vertical element, a three-story central tower with layered colonnades, breaks the horizontal emphasis found in later Prairie designs and recalls features seen in Wright’s Heller and Fricke houses. The palette of Roman brick and stucco enhances subtler architectural elements like diamond-paned windows, dentil molding below the eaves, and vertically aligned masonry under the stringcourse on the second level.
Inside, Wright’s spatial experimentation is evident in the open plan and flowing room sequences, a departure from the compartmentalized Victorian interior. A large fireplace inglenook acts as an organizing feature, drawing parallels to the hearth in Wright’s own Oak Park residence. A significant early use of a nine-foot-wide plate-glass picture window, rarely seen in residential buildings of the time, highlights Wright’s exploration of commercial glazing technology in domestic architecture.
The current owners, Tom and Deb Abrahamson, purchased the house in 1998 for $695,000 (648,000€, £548,000). Since then, they have updated it while maintaining architectural fidelity. Renovations include a new wood-shingled roof, modernized mechanical systems, smart technology integration, and the enclosure of an original open porch. Interiors were upgraded with a gourmet kitchen outfitted with custom cabinetry and commercial appliances, and the primary suite was modernized for contemporary standards. Outside, a Brazilian wood deck, bluestone patio, and heated in-ground pool extend the home’s livable space. A five-car garage accommodates practical needs uncommon in late 19th-century homes.
Despite modernization, original features remain intact, including overhanging eaves, built-in bookshelves, leaded and art-glass windows, and custom woodwork. Some Mission and Prairie-style furnishings, along with artist-made light fixtures modeled after Wright’s designs, may be included in the sale. Though not original, they align with the period character and architectural language of the home.
According to Louise Nix of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago, the listing agent, the house reflects Wright’s architectural duality during this period. “The front exterior feels formal and richly detailed, clearly influenced by Sullivan, while the back shifts to a more relaxed, informal character,” she said. Interest in the property has come from a wide range of buyers, including international inquiries from individuals with personal or professional ties to Wright’s legacy.
Though Rollin and Elizabeth Furbeck only lived in the house for one year, the residence has passed through twelve other owners. It remains privately owned and is not open to the public. Its listing represents a rare opportunity to own a landmark from the early development of one of America’s most influential architects, situated in the community where Wright’s design language first emerged and matured.
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