This modest 550 square foot residence is a rare and early example of Usonian Style architecture. Designed and built in 1934 by noted architect William Wesley “Wes” Peters, an Evansville native and Frank Lloyd Wright’s first apprentice, the home was and still is strikingly unique.
The Usonian Style was originally developed by Wright in the 1930's and featured flat roofs, wide cantilevered overhangs, clerestory windows and horizontal “sandwich-wall” construction. The Peters-Margedant House pre-dates Wright’s first Usonian dwelling (Herbert Jacobs House, 1936-37) by nearly two years. It’s early construction date and bold architectural features speak to the home’s significance as a prototype for the Usonian concept. In 2014 a major effort, led by Indiana Landmarks, raised funds for the relocation and restoration of the home to serve as an educational resource for students, architecture enthusiasts, and the general public.
Indiana Landmarks
University of Evansville
Friends of Peters-Margedant House
Architectural Renovators, General Contractor
Hafer
Matt Wagner Design
Jordan Barclay Photography
Todd Isaac Photography