As you may have read in recent news stories (see: CITY Newspaper, the Democrat & Chronicle and the current issue of Rochester Magazine), the owner’s of Rochester’s Edward E. Boynton House, Jane Parker and Fran Cosentino, have just completed a meticulous and multi-year restoration project. The Boynton House is the only example of Frank Lloyd Wright’s work in Rochester and is a spectacular example of his signature Prairie style. Significantly, the house is also one of a very few Wright homes that continues to function as a private, single family residence (most, such as the Darwin Martin House in Buffalo or Fallingwater in Pennsylvania, have been preserved as public house museums).
The complex restoration project was overseen by a local architecture firm, Bero Architecture, PLLC. Bayer Landscape Architecture, PLLC provided the landscape design for the property, which originally included the two lots to the south of the house when it was built in 1908. Today, the property sits on a standard-sized city lot.
The above image shows the house after restoration. One of the most visually striking changes was restoration of the original front porch. The porch was enclosed shortly after the house was constructed but was not a part of Wright’s original design. The newly restored porch showcases the dramatic cantilevered roof, a common element in Wright’s designs.
Pictured below is the house’s dining room with the original furniture, designed specifically for the Boynton House by Frank Lloyd Wright.
The dining room also showcases some of the house’s 235 pieces of art glass.
The Landmark Society recently celebrated the completion of the restoration, congratulating Jane and Fran and launching our 75th Anniversary.
Congratulations and thank you, again, to Fran and Jane on their extraordinary work and dedication to this project!
A special thank you to:
Title Sponsor
Bergmann Associates
Boynton Design Team Sponsors
Bero Architecture, PLLC
Bayer Landscape Architecture, PLLC
Photography by Marty Nott
11 thoughts on “The Boynton House: A Frank Lloyd Wright-designed masterpiece”
Wonderful restoration work by the Boynton house owners, and
the Bero Architects, and no less meaningfully, with the help and support of the W. N.Y. Landmark Society. I’m from Rochester, and I well remember touring this FLW house years ago, on the Smith College Tour of Houses. Though I now live in W. Mass., my heart is still in Rochester, and I’m proud to know that such unique homes are being so well -cared for, and lovingly preserved. I can see that every small detail was attended to, and I’m sure even the imperious and demanding FLW himself would be more than well-pleased! Again, congratulations to all.
TILDA M. HUNTING
I was first in the Boynton House in 1962, and although I have not lived in Rochester for fifty years, on my annual visit a walk-by this wonderful house is always in order. The rehabilitation that has taken place is absolutely magnificent. In addition to the total rehabilitation of the original structure, the addition of the garage and pergola is a a great addition, not just functionally, but it adds scale and complexity that had been lost as the house became surrounded by other houses. Congratulations to the Landmark Society and many thanks to Jane Parker and Fran Cosentino for saving this important landmark.
thank you for renovating this wonderful piece of art work and sharing the process thru PBS.
I am a huge Frank Lloyd Wright fan, a fan off praire architecture and PBS . Will a dvd of the restoration be available for sale. Thank you. Steve Duffala
A dvd is available from WXXI public television in Rochester. It has been nominated for an Emmy.
It was just wonderful to see the loving restoration of this home on PBS. Every Frank LLoyd Wright design I walk through is a thrill Thank you for sharing this process with all of us!
My mother grew up in this house and when I asked her of her memories of it she said the roof always leaked. I think my grandmother bought it in the mid to late 1920’s.
Are tours ever given of the Boynton House?
The house is absolutely stunning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m5tyQs72Hw
An animation of this house done by me
A well done true FLLW clasic, and a well done restoration and presentation of artifacts. It would be good to see a floor plan of the home.
Comments are closed.