A Prairie School Masterpiece Rooted in History

Legend has it, Frank Lloyd Wright once tore through his Oak Park neighborhood in a linen suit and driving goggles—his twin passions for speed and design evident in the 85 cars he reportedly owned. This love of movement and form shaped some of his most iconic creations, including the Robie House in 1909––the first American home designed with a built-in garage.

Just a few years later, in 1913, that vision found resonance in Utah. Designed by renowned architects Pope and Burton, this historic residence is Utah’s finest example of the Prairie School style, and the first home in the state to feature an integrated garage. Inspired by the wide, open landscapes of the American Midwest, the Prairie style defined early 20th-century modern living. Rooted in the Prairie School’s reverence for horizontal composition, the home’s low-pitched roof, overhanging eaves, and broad balconies create a rhythmic pattern. Planters and urns adorn every level, designed to bloom in sync with the seasons and blur the boundary between home and environment. From the front, a modest entryway opens into a generous, light-filled layout that flows with ease. The kitchen opens directly into expansive outdoor entertaining areas, complete with a pool. On the lower level, rows of original changing rooms whisper stories of roaring summer parties and ragtime sounds echoing off the water. The primary suite rests on the main floor, with three additional bedrooms upstairs, each of sizable proportions. Throughout, the home balances openness and intimacy.

It’s easy to picture the Jazz Age here: you can almost hear the swinging melodies drifting through the wide halls. It’s the kind of space F. Scott Fitzgerald might have imagined for Jay Gatsby: storied, soulful, and timeless. So why not riff on history a little? Come see it for yourself, find your rhythm, and step into your very own feel-good era.