Herbert and Katherine Jacobs First House
Herbert and Katherine Jacobs First House, Frank Lloyd Wright residential masterwork in Madison, United States
The Herbert and Katherine Jacobs First House is a residential building in Madison that combines flat roofs, cantilevered overhangs, and large windows. These windows fill the interior spaces with natural light throughout different times of day.
The house was built in 1937 and marked the beginning of Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian architectural concept. This concept developed as a way to provide affordable housing solutions for American middle-class families.
The home shows how residents live in spaces deliberately designed to connect with the surrounding landscape. The open floor plan creates a flowing relationship between different areas of daily life.
The building is located in Madison and accessible when you know the address on Toepfer Avenue. The strategic window placement and roof design support energy efficiency and provide natural ventilation throughout the day.
The house was designed with built-in furniture and thoughtful window arrangement that considers all aspects of everyday living. These details reveal how Wright viewed each element as part of a unified design system.
Location: Madison
Architects: Frank Lloyd Wright
Official opening: 1937
Architectural style: modern architecture
Part of: The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright
Address: Toepfer Avenue
Website: http://usonia1.com
GPS coordinates: 43.05861,-89.44167
Latest update: December 12, 2025 05:30
Frank Lloyd Wright developed one of the most influential architectural styles of the 20th century over seven decades of practice. His buildings connect interior spaces with surrounding landscapes through horizontal lines, natural materials, and open floor plans. From the Prairie Houses of the...
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