Sergent (1976), p.17
The book Frank
Lloyd Wright's Usonian Houses provides detailed descriptions
of Wright's designs for moderate cost one-family homes. In
1937, Frank Lloyd Wright designed the Herbert Jacobs house, the first Usonian
home. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, the Jacobs residence consisted
of 1,500 square feet and was built for $5,500 including architect's fee
of $450. The Jacobs house is significant because in it, Wright discovered
technical innovations and subtly integrated them into a plan and lifestyle
that pleased his clients. This, in turn, satisfied the need for an informal
house to suit the changed social conditions of the late 1930s. Many
of the improvements that Wright introduced in his Usonian houses were incorporated
into later residences in America.
Sergent (1976), p.17
Planning innovations created by Wright provided the Jacobs family with privacy from the street, a vast garden area despite the small suburban lot, and interior rooms of ample space. In his planning of the site, Wright placed the house close to the street in order to decrease the cost of the driveway as well as to enlarge the garden space in the back yard. The use of an L-shaped plan gave the sense of an inner world in which all rooms relate to one another. Wright centralized the services allowing for the kitchen and bathroom to have access to doors on both wings. Therefore, someone working in the kitchen was in a central but open position. From the kitchen, Mrs. Jacobs could keep an eye on children playing on the terrace, bring food to the table easily, and converse with her guests. In his Usonian houses, Wright abolished the dining room and instead made it a special area of the living room. The living room was designed to encourage informal use.
The Jacobs residence consisted of three important construction features that were used in all later Usonian homes: board and batten walls; a planning grid; and underfloor heating.
Board and batten walls formed the interior and exterior finish, therefore eliminating the need for plastering and decoration. The plywood core was surrounded on each side by a waterproof membrane, and the battens screwed to it on both sides were shaped to hold the boards, while allowing them to expand at the same time. Wright claimed this composite wall was "vermin proof and practically fireproof." This board and batten system was also integrated with the detailing and controlled the heights of window transoms, sills, the "decks" for concealed lighting, bookshelves, eaves, clerestory windows, and chimneys.
A plan of the residence was comprised of a 2 by 4-foot module that was even visible on the concrete floor, making it easier for builders to locate walls and glazing units. For Wright the grid had advantages because its dimensions were chosen to coincide with those of its materials.
A lightweight floorslab was used and the traditional basement was dispensed with. By using steam or hot water piping, it became possible to heat the floor, therefore eliminating the need for radiators. The overall result was heat without a draft or temperature variation of the most comfort - cool head and warm feet.
Usonian homes were successful for a number of reasons. Low building costs satisfied clients. The materials and spatial characteristics of Usonians gave a sense of serenity, variety, and security. The Jacobs house gave Wright the opportunity to experiment with ideas that he had devised during a decade. It brought together many of Wright's hopes and skills represented in many unbuilt projects and also influenced subsequent affordable housing.
Between the time when he first designed the Jacobs house up until the end of the prewar period, Frank Lloyd Wright designed 26 usonian houses that were completed and an additonal 31 that were not built. Although most were built in the midwest, Wright's usonian houses are located throughout the United States, demonstrating that this type of plan can be adapted to any climate and site situation.