We don’t see many examples of Taliesin-style homes around these parts. First developed by master architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Taliesin homes blend outdoor with indoor elements philosophically and structurally, using local materials to provide the home an organic feel. These homes also require a deep understanding of their surrounding landscape, resulting in homes that look like they belong in their environment.
Wright developed the style with his namesake estate and home, Taliesin, built in 1911. Wright placed his drafting studio and living quarters in the brow of a hill on his preserve located at Spring Green, WI, leaving the top of the hill open. Taliesin means “shining brow” in Welsh, according to Taliesin Preservation.
Surveying the view from any one of the five decks, you might think this Taliesin-inspired home in Arena, WI, was a resort instead of a private residence.
Just listed for $ 1,590,000, the 5,544-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom home has exactly what people dream of in a vacation home: sweeping views, a design pedigree, state-of-the-art technology, and plenty of seclusion.
“The design is all about connecting the inside with the outdoors,” said listing agent Heidi Laros. “There are five access points to outside. The lower level is all walk-out.”
The home sits on 62 acres of undeveloped land with rolling hills, mature trees, and endless green space. Laros told us that won’t change—most of the property is under forestry protection.
The home’s architect, Floyd Hamblen, studied at the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture before becoming the school’s architect-in-residence and joining the Taliesin Fellowship. However, Laros noted, this home isn’t a typical Wright design. “It is more in the spirit of that design.”
Key features of the home reflect signature Taliesin style. High ceilings with swooping wood beams, the grand staircase, and two stonewall fireplaces would make Wright proud. Hamblen also took inspiration—literally—from the surrounding landscape. According to Laros, the cherrywood used for the cabinets, panels, and window frames was all sourced from trees on the property .
Despite having a rustic, down-to-earth feel, the home is also surprisingly state-of-the-art. There’s a heated two-car garage, and the home is heated and cooled by a geothermal unit—a ground-sourced heat pump that transfers heat to and from the ground. Many features, including the window blinds, are controlled electronically. “Everything is at the push of a button,” Laros says.
Given the size and remote location of the property, the agent believes this home is ideal for someone who is looking for space and seclusion. This would also make a perfect vacation home for a city dweller who wants to get away from it all—and as the wind blows, Madison, WI, is only 30 minutes away and Chicago is just a three-hour drive.