Buffalo, New York, emerges as an unexpected but rich destination for Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. Central to this is the Darwin Martin House, Wright’s first major commission outside the Midwest, which underwent a $50 million restoration, enhancing Buffalo’s architectural significance. The story of the Martin House parallels Buffalo’s history of economic prosperity and decline, tied to the Larkin Soap Company. Despite years of neglect, the house was saved and restored, becoming a National Landmark. The house’s restoration was complemented by a visitor center designed by Toshiko Mori. Buffalo’s broader Wright-related offerings, including tours of five sites, demonstrate the city’s architectural renaissance, while the resurgence of areas like Larkin Square signifies the city’s ongoing revival.
Frank Lloyd Wright, the renowned American architect, is typically linked with the Midwest, particularly Chicago and his hometown of Spring Green, Wisconsin. However, Buffalo, New York also houses an impressive collection of Wright’s work. In 2017, marking the 150th anniversary of Wright’s birth, Buffalo aimed to establish itself as a top destination for architecture enthusiasts. The initiative began with a $50 million restoration of the Darwin Martin House, Wright’s first major commission outside the Midwest. Now completed, the restoration of this house serves as the centerpiece of a five-site “All Wright, All Day” tour designed to draw Wright’s admirers to upstate New York and elevate Buffalo as a key design destination.
The story of the Martin House mirrors the history of Buffalo itself. Darwin Martin, an executive at the Larkin Soap Company, a Buffalo-based business that thrived by offering bulk deals on its “factory to family” products—akin to a precursor of Costco—was a key figure in the city’s prosperity during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At that time, Buffalo was the eighth largest city in the United States and boasted the highest number of millionaires per capita, with Martin among them. His passion for architecture and design, combined with a nearly limitless budget, made him an ideal collaborator for Frank Lloyd Wright, who had recently left a prominent Chicago firm to establish his career. After hearing about Wright from his brother in Chicago, Martin commissioned the architect to design three buildings: his home, a smaller house for his sister on the same property, and the Larkin Company’s administration building. Years later, Wright returned to western New York to design the Martins’ summer home, Graycliff, on Lake Erie.
Mary Roberts, the executive director of the Martin House, has deep roots in the area, having grown up nearby, with her husband being raised in the same neighborhood where the house stands. She has dedicated years to preserving this early masterpiece of Frank Lloyd Wright and sharing the story of the Martin family. Roberts noted that many people are less familiar with the Martin House compared to other Wright houses like Fallingwater. She emphasized the significance of the Martin House, describing it as the project that propelled Wright to national and international fame. During the construction of the Martin estate, which was completed in 1907, Wright made his first trip to Japan, an experience that profoundly influenced his work for years to come. The project expanded to a total of 32,000 square feet, far beyond the original plan Wright presented to his client. The complex ultimately included six interconnected buildings: the main house, servants’ quarters, carriage house, conservatory, and an open-air walkway, which remains one of its most visually striking and photographed features.
Any Frank Lloyd Wright enthusiast could likely recognize the Martin House instantly, even without the groups of admirers often gathered in front of it. Its long, angular design is a quintessential example of Wright’s Prairie Style architecture. Many of the house’s features, such as the integration of indoor plants to harmonize with nature, low ceilings, and bands of decorative art glass—including the iconic “Tree of Life” window—became defining elements of Wright’s style. The “Tree of Life” design, in particular, remains a favorite, frequently reproduced on Christmas ornaments, glass paperweights, and other memorabilia. Wright’s meticulous attention to detail extended to every aspect of the house, from rain gutters to birdhouses. He even went so far as to design a dress for Darwin’s wife, Isabelle, believing it would perfectly complement the building’s aesthetics.
The Martin House, once a prominent architectural work by Frank Lloyd Wright, fell into obscurity due to unfortunate circumstances. The downfall began when the Larkin Soap Company, Darwin Martin, and Buffalo itself all faced financial ruin. Martin and his wife lost much of their wealth during the Great Depression, leading to the demolition of the Larkin administration building. The Martin House was left vacant for years, with local children often sneaking in to play. Fears grew that the house would be demolished or succumb to neglect; in the early 1960s, the pergola, conservatory, and carriage house were all torn down. Fortunately, a dedicated group of locals, including the University of Buffalo and later the Martin House organization, managed to save the housing complex. They also removed a dilapidated apartment block that had been constructed on the property. The Martin House was designated a National Landmark in 1986, protecting it from demolition. This milestone led to a vigorous fundraising campaign for restoration, supported by then-Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a passionate advocate of Wright’s work.
In addition to restoring and repairing the remaining structures, the decision was made to commission an architect to design a visitor’s center for the Martin House. Toshiko Mori, former head of the Harvard School of Architecture, won the commission and described the Martin House as “the Parthenon of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture.” Her design, a sleek glass box filled with natural light, successfully immerses visitors in Wright’s vision without overshadowing his original work. Efforts were also made to recover missing items that had once been part of the house, with some pieces located through eBay or auction houses like Sotheby’s. For instance, a replica of the Winged Victory statue, originally at one end of the walkway, was recreated using the same mold as the original. Horticulturist Nellie Gardner was brought in to restore the gardens and outdoor spaces at both the Martin House complex and the Martins’ summer home. She meticulously researched Isabelle Martin’s letters and diaries, where Mrs. Martin, an avid gardener, had provided detailed accounts of her plantings, locations, and reasons behind them.
With the Martin House now officially reopened to the public as a fully restored Wright masterpiece, the “All Wright, All Day” tour continues to offer visitors the opportunity to explore five Wright-designed sites in a single day. The tour includes specialized experiences for photographers and events tailored for children. In addition to the Martin House and Graycliff, it features the Blue Sky Mausoleum in Buffalo’s Forest Lawn Cemetery, a series of stark marble slabs resembling a staircase. Although commissioned by Darwin Martin, he and Isabelle were eventually laid to rest in a modest, unmarked grave nearby, now marked by a new monument funded by Wright enthusiasts. The tour also includes the Fontana Boathouse, originally intended for the University of Wisconsin but only realized posthumously on the Niagara River near the U.S.-Canada border, and a gas station Wright had planned for a busy Buffalo intersection, which was later built inside the Pierce-Arrow Museum, known for its collection of classic cars. While these three structures were designed by Wright, complete with detailed specifications for materials and colors—such as the pink-green-and-gold aesthetic of the gas station—they were not constructed during his lifetime or under his direct supervision, leading some Wright purists to view them with skepticism.
Many Buffalonians, in their characteristically affable and self-deprecating manner, found it hard to believe that the architectural marvel in their midst, the Martin House, was returning to its former glory after so many years. Yet, the revival of the Martin House was just one indicator of Buffalo’s broader resurgence. The site once occupied by the Larkin Soap Company has been transformed into Larkin Square, a bustling multi-use complex featuring live music, food trucks, and pickleball courts. The driving force behind this development was Howard and Leslie Zemsky, a husband-and-wife team credited with revitalizing Buffalo’s central business district. Howard Zemsky, who later served as the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Economic Development under Governor Andrew Cuomo, played a key role in securing the “Buffalo Billion” investment for the city. Moreover, the Richardson-Olmsted Complex was successfully converted into the upscale Hotel Henry, which opened in the spring of 2017, addressing the city’s need for a large independent hotel amid a sea of chains. On June 8, 2017, Frank Lloyd Wright’s 150th birthday, the Museum of Modern Art in New York City launched a major retrospective focused on Wright’s work and his ideas on architecture, design, and urbanism. A significant portion of the exhibition featured pieces borrowed from, fittingly, Buffalo.
Gallery
Photo Courtesy of © Matthew Digati © Biff Henrich © KC Kratt
Location
Address: Buffalo, New York, United States
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
