After 74 years with one family, Frank Lloyd Wright home sells for $4m

Frank Lloyd Wright's historic Shavin House in Chattanooga has sold for $4 million, more than double its initial asking price of $1.6 million. The property, which was designed for Seamour and Gerte Shavin in 1949, has remained in the same family for approximately 74 years. The house, which overlooks the Tennessee River and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993, was listed for sale in late June.

The sale was finalized following a dispute among the children of the late owners, with the winning bid selected by a judge. The buyer, a couple from Nashville, has not been publicly identified. Wright's Usonian architecture, characterized by its functionality, integration with the landscape, and use of natural materials, is evident in the house's design.

Built into the hilltop landscape, the 1,784-square-foot property features exterior walls made of crab orchard stone, a Tennessee native sandstone, and a roof that slopes upward on one side to create higher ceilings in the great room while the opposite side is cantilevered to form a carport. The interior showcases large floor-to-ceiling windows that allow natural light to fill the great room and offer views of the Tennessee River and Lookout Mountain.

The property includes three bedrooms, an office with a built-in desk and shelving, and two bathrooms. Despite being over 70 years old, the Shavin House has retained many of Wright's original architectural elements, which likely contributed to its high sale price and recognition on the National Register of Historic Places.