The Wright Buyer

A rare Frank Lloyd Wright home hits the market in Mississippi

by

House & Home

This summer, a Mississippi home designed by a man dubbed by the American Institute of Architects “the greatest American architect of all time” hit the market at $2.5 million, listed by Crescent Sotheby’s International Realty New Orleans. The Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian-style masterpiece, called Fountainhead, is located in the heart of Jackson. 

"I think the best person to purchase this home will be someone who appreciates Wright’s designs and who enjoys historic restoration and preservation.” —Douglas Adams

Wright designed Fountainhead for J. Willis Hughes in 1948, then oversaw its construction from 1950–1954, when he was in his eighties. Jackson architect Robert Parker Adams purchased it in 1979, getting it placed on the National Register of Historic Places and completely restoring it over the next few decades. He lived there until a year or two ago and passed away July 3 at the age of eighty-seven. 

At 3558 square feet with four bedrooms, two baths, and two half baths, Fountainhead is situated on a lush green lot nearly one acre in size. Considered an archetype of Wright’s signature style, the low-slung house incorporates geometric shapes and harmonic design. The Tidewater red cypress wood paneling covers walls and ceilings, and plenty of built-ins take the place of furniture. The floors are concrete, finished with a terracotta stain. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide a direct connection to the natural surroundings. The small but functional kitchen features open shelving and copper countertops. 

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Douglas Adams co-lists the home with David Abner Smith. “I’m a lover of mid-century modern design, and I’m a lover of Frank Lloyd Wright’s work,” says Adams. “When I got my real estate license, I never dreamed I’d ever list a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home. I think the best person to purchase this home will be someone who appreciates Wright’s designs and who enjoys historic restoration and preservation.” 

See the listing at sothebysrealty.com.