The Dudley Spencer House

Art — Produced by Michael O’Reilly

Delaware’s only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home was on the market for the first time ever in 2013. Known as The Dudley Spencer House, the sale on this historic gem was pending at the time this segment was being finished, after the death of Dr. Spencer – the builder and only owner of the residence. Designed in 1956, the home features a hemicycle – or semicircular – design, with curvilinear walls constructed of irregularly coursed field stone. Set on six wooded acres near a running creek, the home takes advantage of its peaceful setting with terraced outdoor spaces. Inside, the residence boasts many signature Wright design elements: built-in furniture, clerestory windows and beautiful woodwork. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the home was one of Wright’s last commissions. The famed architect died in 1959. In this segment, we talk with Pat Ferrarro, who grew up in the house, the only child of Dr. and Mrs Spencer. A measured view of the house and Wright’s career is given by David DeLong, a University of Pennsylvania professor and internationally-renowned scholar on Wright, as we take a long look inside and outside the house and its environs.

Web Extra — Edited by Jasia Kaulbach

Architect Fred Kaulbach walks us through the Spencer House. The house is a Frank Lloyd Wright design in nearby Wilmington, DE and was recently sold after being in the Spencer family for over 50 years, since it’s construction. Like many of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonion homes, the Spencer House is uniquely nestled among the property’s natural surroundings and features a large living room area and windows that open up the interior spaces of the house to the scenic outdoor environment.