Home, Sweet Home

CHICAGO—All eyes may be on the May 13 Christie’s New York sale of Richard Neutra’s Palm Springs Kaufmann House, but later in the week Wright, in Chicago, is offering another historic residence by one of the most influential architects of the mid-20th century: Louis Kahn’s Esherick House, in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania (est. $2–3 million). Built between 1959 and ’61, the two-story stucco and wood building, with Kahn’s characteristic monolithic exterior and contrasting airy interiors, features a kitchen designed by Wharton Esherick, an uncle of the original owner. It is a rare example of a residential work by Kahn (1901–1974), who is best known for the Salk Institute, in La Jolla, California, and the Kimbell Art Museum, in Fort Worth, Texas. The house, which is in excellent condition, is being offered in Wright’s May 18 sale of important design.

"Home, Sweet Home" originally appeared in the May 2008 issue of Art+Auction. For a complete list of articles from this issue available on ARTINFO, see Art+Auction's May 2008 Table of Contents.