June 12, 2021

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT’S ALLEN HOUSE

225 N Roosevelt St #3720, Wichita, Kansas 67208

“The Allen House is a Prairie Style home in Wichita, Kansas, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1915 for former Kansas Governor Henry Justin Allen and his wife, Elsie.” - Wikipedia

I love Frank Lloyd Wright’s designs.  The Allen house was the last of Wright’s Prairie Style designs, and according to the docent has been voted to be his best of this style.  Built at a cost of $30,000 from 1916-1918, the house was very functional and beautiful. 

I learned about the Allen house too late to sign up for the “Grand Tour,” where you are able to take pictures on the inside of the house, so I only have pictures of the exterior. 

 
Frank Lloyd Wright's prairie style design.

Frank Lloyd Wright's prairie style design.

FLWAllen-3.jpg
The front door is hidden from the street. This was a common feature of Wright's design. He believed your home was your sanctuary and thus hid the door to discourage people from coming to the house.

The front door is hidden from the street. This was a common feature of Wright's design. He believed your home was your sanctuary and thus hid the door to discourage people from coming to the house.

The raised flower beds had radiators from the inside the living room underneath, so the Allen's could enjoy flowers all year long.

The raised flower beds had radiators from the inside the living room underneath, so the Allen's could enjoy flowers all year long.

FLWAllen-1.jpg
FLWAllen-2.jpg
The two square cupolas were above the two bathrooms on the second floor and helped with ventilation.

The two square cupolas were above the two bathrooms on the second floor and helped with ventilation.

The garden was an extension of the living room and was used for entertaining.

The garden was an extension of the living room and was used for entertaining.

FLWAllen-10.jpg
The hallway which ran the length of the house on the second floor was used as Mrs. Allen's art gallery.

The hallway which ran the length of the house on the second floor was used as Mrs. Allen's art gallery.

Originally meant to be the garage, in a design change this became the garden house, which was used for entertaining small groups.

Originally meant to be the garage, in a design change this became the garden house, which was used for entertaining small groups.

A view from the garden house back towards the living room.

A view from the garden house back towards the living room.

The Koi pond did have some Koi swimming around, but the docent told us a heron has taken a liking to the fish, thus they have put an alligator head sculpture at the end of the pond. She didn't say whether it was working or not.

The Koi pond did have some Koi swimming around, but the docent told us a heron has taken a liking to the fish, thus they have put an alligator head sculpture at the end of the pond. She didn't say whether it was working or not.

This was the servant's entrance into the kitchen. The small, square, gray door was for ice deliveries. I figured the bars on the windows were for security reasons, turns out they were to store frozen food in the winter.

This was the servant's entrance into the kitchen. The small, square, gray door was for ice deliveries. I figured the bars on the windows were for security reasons, turns out they were to store frozen food in the winter.