A Rare Look Inside Frank Lloyd Wright’s Brandes House

A Frank Lloyd Wright house can be architecturally significant without being grand in size. That was one of the surprises waiting for Sammamish Rotary members during a special visit to the Brandes House on August 20.

Built in 1952, the Brandes House is a one-story Usonian home tucked into the woods. Rather than feeling monumental, it feels remarkably connected to its setting. The low profile, extensive windows, warm woodwork and carefully designed interior spaces give the house an intimate, livable quality.

And the Brandes House is very much a home.

John and Marsha Shyer live there and generously opened their doors to Sammamish Rotary, giving members an opportunity most people never have: the chance to experience a privately owned Frank Lloyd Wright residence from the inside.

The Shyers enjoy sharing the house with selected groups, but living in an architectural landmark comes with some unusual challenges. John recalled discovering one particularly enthusiastic admirer wandering around the property after 10 p.m., taking photographs. It was a memorable reminder that, famous architect or not, this is still someone’s home. The property now has a gate, which the Shyers open for invited groups and special events.

For Rotary members, the evening offered more than an opportunity to admire an important piece of architecture. It provided something equally valuable: time together.

Sammamish Rotary creates experiences like this because friendships and community connections are central to Rotary. Service may be the work Rotary does, but relationships are what make that work possible. Spending an evening together in an extraordinary setting gave members a chance to learn something new, enjoy one another’s company and strengthen the friendships that ultimately support service to the community.

And thanks to John and Marsha’s hospitality, members also got to discover that living in a Frank Lloyd Wright house apparently includes the occasional late-night architecture fan.

To learn more about the Rotary Club of Sammamish, visit sammamishrotary.org. If you’d like to get involved or connect with us, we’d love to hear from you at sammamishrotary.org/pages/connect.

Photo courtesy of Marilyn Guthrie.