Clarence Sondern House, Usonian residence in Roanoke neighborhood, Kansas City, United States
The Clarence Sondern House is a residential property designed by Frank Lloyd Wright with an L-shaped floor plan that uses cypress wood and glass extensively throughout. The home features radiant heating embedded in concrete floors and numerous glass doors that connect rooms to the outdoors.
The house was built in 1939 for Clarence Sondern, a laboratory director, and later expanded significantly in 1948 by its new owner Arnold Adler. This expansion showed how the original design concept could adapt to accommodate changing needs and new inhabitants.
The residence reflects Wright's design approach through extensive windows, built-in furnishings, and the way indoor and outdoor spaces flow together. Visitors can see how these choices shape daily life and create a sense of openness throughout the home.
The property sits near The Plaza and Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, making it easy to combine a visit with other local attractions. Visits require advance planning since this is a private residence.
The home contains thirty-seven glass doors, an unusually high number that surprises many visitors and becomes a striking visual feature. This abundance of glass was an intentional design choice to flood the spaces with light and blur the boundaries between inside and outside.
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