The Wake

The original Darwin D. Martin complex includes the homes of Darwin D. Martin and George F. Barton, two New York business tycoons, as well as a conservatory, carriage house and a pergola. All designed by Frank Llyod Wright, an exhibition of the new interpretations of these buildings is on display at Rapson Hall on the University campus.

The eight-bedroom Martin house is the jewel of the property. The home was built in 1903 and cost roughly $175,000, when an average home at this time cost about $10,000.

The Buffalo, N.Y. complex became a depressed area when Martin died in 1935. The house was abandoned in 1937 and remained empty until 1955 when another architect, Sebastian Tauriello, purchased the home. Tauriello had to sell the property behind the home to be able to afford the preservation of the main house. In 1960 the pergola (arbor), conservatory and carriage house were demolished to make room for apartment buildings. The Barton House was bought by Eric and Eleanor Larrabbee in 1967, but was eventually purchased in 1994 for the Martin House Restoration Corporation by M & T Bank, Rich Products Corp. and the Buffalo News.

The complex has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1975 and the Martin House was put on the National Historic Landmark list in 1986.

In the 1990s plans for the restoration of the complex began when it was purchased by a local group. The apartment buildings were torn down and the effort began to rebuild the original three structures. Construction on this project is currently underway.

In 2002, five architecture firms were invited to design a visitor’s center for the site, which is hoping to attract tourists with their restoration efforts. The Martin House Restoration Corporation is hoping people will come to the Martin site like they flock to Wright’s masterpiece home “Fallingwater” in rural Pennsylvania, which was built 30 years after the Martin Complex.

Of the five firms, the design by Toshiko Mori Architect was chosen. According to this firm, the visitor support spaces will include an exhibition space, permanent gallery, a theater and a museum shop allowing guests to learn more about the complex and Wright.

The new architecture added to the property by Toshiko Mori will “reinterpret” the Martin House and the innovative techniques used by Wright. The firm wanted to reflect the legacy of Wright and incorporate this with modern architecture themes. They used Wright’s designs and aspirations as a springboard for the concept of this design.

The contest model submissions from the other four firms are also on display at Rapson, but Toshiko Mori’s design takes center stage in the exhibition. The winning design incorporates Wright’s use of light with raised windows on the ceiling, allowing sunlight to enter the home with ease and let nature be a part of the building and its ambience, something Wright would be truly inspired by.

The exhibit is currently on display in the HGA Gallery in Rapson Hall along with other architectural models. Visit cdes.umn.edu for more information.