Many know of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, but Evansvilleโs 1934 prototype of his Usonian style continues to fly under the radar โ hopefully, says curator Emily Wilderman, not for much longer.
Evansville resident and Wright collaborator William Wesley Peters built the 552-square-foot curiosity, complete with geometric architecture and a flat roof, for his relatives the Margedants at 1506 E. Indiana St., a fascinating story captured by Evansville Livingย in the July/August 2013 article โNot Quite Wright.โ With support from Indiana Landmarks, the University of Evansville, and the cityโs Department of Metropolitan Development, the now-called Peters-Margedant House was lifted and moved in 2016 to UE, Petersโ alma mater. A private foundation has custody of the house.
โUE backed the initiative and helps maintain the house; we, in turn, work with students to create a space to learn and study from,โ Wilderman says.
The house is open for free tours and hosts students for learning activities, which can be mutually beneficial. A spring 2020 ChangeLab class provided significant improvements, including upgraded interior lighting, in a collaboration that Wilderman says gives students โreal-world issues to work on.โ
A Tecumseh High School class studying housing and interior design recently visited the home to learn about the Usonian style.
โThe students in this class were very engaged; they asked wonderful questions,โ Wilderman says. โThatโs a goal of ours, to outreach to schools to get more classes in to visit.โย ย
