Samara (house)

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Christian, John E. and Catherine E., House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Location:	West Lafayette, Indiana
Coordinates:	40°26′17.6″N 86°54′59.06″W / 40.438222, -86.9164056Coordinates: 40°26′17.6″N 86°54′59.06″W / 40.438222, -86.9164056
Built/Founded:	1956
Architect:	Frank Lloyd Wright; Woods,Frank
Architectural style(s):	Modern Movement, Other
Added to NRHP:	June 16, 1992
NRHP Reference#:	92000679 ^[1]
Governing body:	Private

Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright SAMARA (John E. Christian House) is located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The home is a pristine example of the Usonian homes that Wright designed. SAMARA was built from 1954 and 1956 and is still occupied by the original owner, John E. Christian.

[edit] History

In 1950 John and Kay Christian decided to build a home near Purdue University where both worked, John as a pharmaceutical chemistry professor and Kay as the social director for the university. After much discussion they decided that Wright was the architect who suited the ideals for their home. Not knowing how to proceed, John phoned Wright directly at his office and was surprisingly able to speak directly to the famed architect. Over the next six years they worked together both with meetings in West Lafayette, Indiana and at Taliesin (studio), Wright's summer home in Spring Green, Wisconsin.

The home was named after the Samara trees which Mr. Wright spotted on the property during his first visit. He then used a stylized design of the chevron-shaped leaves throughout the home including the clerestory windows, dining chairs and the living room rug.

The Christian family maintains the home according to the exacting specifications of its architect. As in many homes of Wright's design, the architect specified or designed the entire environment including the furniture, linens and landscaping. When they originally moved into the home the Christians were not able to purchase all of the custom details specified by the architect however they made an agreement with Mr. Wright to continue adding to the home in future years. They are still in the process of commissioning furniture that Wright originally designed for the home.

The color pallette of furniture and design details is brighter and more colorful than other examples of Wright's architecture. This was prompted by Mrs. Christian who requested brighter colors against Wright's wishes. Wright was finally convinced by his wife Olgivanna Lloyd Wright who insisted that she would help Mrs. Christian with the color design. The result is a mix of colors unique to this beautiful Wright-designed home.