John C. Pew House

The John C. Pew House is a two-story residential structure in Shorewood Hills built on a slope overlooking Lake Mendota. The building employs limestone supports on one side and ground anchoring on the other to manage the sloping terrain.

Frank Lloyd Wright designed this home in 1938 for research chemist John Pew and his wife Ruth. William Wesley Peters supervised its construction and later became a key associate in Wright's architectural practice.

The house represents Usonian design, which aimed to provide affordable homes with thoughtful architecture for everyday people. Walking through it, you notice how the rooms connect efficiently and how natural materials create a sense of quality despite the modest size.

The house sits on steep sloping ground, so expect stairs and uneven walkways when exploring the property. The most commanding views of the lake appear from the south-facing side of the building.

Peters once compared the house to Fallingwater, prompting Wright to remark that Fallingwater was actually the wealthier version of this design. This comment reveals how proud Wright was of achieving such quality on a modest budget.