Frank Lloyd Wright's Bachman Wilson House (1950s). Formerly located in Millstone, New Jersey, the house is currently being reconstructed in Bentonville, Arkansas. photo Courtesy Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art .
Arkansas will soon have its first Frank Lloyd Wright building, thanks to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, on November 11.
The building, originally built in New Jersey, was acquired by the museum in 2013. It previously belonged to Lawrence and Sharon Tarantino, architects and designers who feared that the increasing risk of flooding threatened the historic structure in its original location.
This past year, the museum (whose founder Alice Walton is the heir to the Walmart fortune) took on the daunting task of disassembling the 1954 structure, known as the Bachman-Wilson House, and relocating it 1,200 miles to Bentonville, Arkansas.
Concrete pouring at the build site for the Frank Lloyd Wright Bachman-Wilson House, at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in December 2014.
Photo: Marc F. Henning.
“We are excited to share this historic object that embodies our mission to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites art and nature,” said executive director Rod Bigelow in a statement.
After a meticulously reconstruction, the home will be officially unveiled to the public just in time for the fourth anniversary of Crystal Bridges’ opening. Where the Bachman-Wilson House once overlooked the Millstone River, it will now enjoy views of Crystal Springs and the lush greenery surrounding the museum.
“Our goal is to provide as much access as possible while being responsible stewards of the house,” said Niki Stewart, the museum’s chief engagement officer, in a statement. “Because of the intimate size of the house, we are requiring reservations to enter, while the grounds around the house will be accessible without a ticket.”
The interior of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Bachman-Wilson House.
Photo: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
Visitors can opt for a guided tour, or to explore the property on their own. As with the museum itself, admission to the Bachman-Wilson House will be free.
Earlier this year, Wright’s Hollyhock House reopened to the public after an extensive five-year, $4.4 million restoration. The Los Angeles residence, built in 1919 for oil heiress Aline Barnsdall, is one of 10 of the architect’s designs, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, to be nominated to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List.
Related Stories:
Alice Walton’s Crystal Bridges Museum Bought Georgia O’Keeffe Painting for Record $44 Million
Bold Thread Installation Takes over Crystal Bridges
State of the Art at Crystal Bridges: Pure Pop for Now People
Crystal Bridges Acquires Koons Sculpture (Yes, Really)
Archives Lend New Insight to the Work of Frank Lloyd Wright at MoMA