LOCATION Barrington Hills, Ill.
COMPANY Mariani Landscape
DETAILS When it comes to American architecture, not many names stand out more than Frank Lloyd Wright. So, when trying to modernize one of his last standing designs, there’s a lot of pressure to stay true to the original masterpiece.
“It was kind of a thrill though, just to work on a project like that with that significance,” says Tony LoBello, design principal for Mariani. “That was a privilege, and at the same time, you’re a little bit nervous because you’re treading on history.”
The residential home was designed in 1957, and LoBello says the 10-acre site sits in the middle of thick woodlands.
The project included a complete overhaul of the outdoor spaces, as much of it had been completely overgrown with the oak forest and buckthorn. Lawns and gardens were added with sweeping views from the house, and LoBello says it was key to keep that mid-century prairie aesthetic that Wright had used in the original design.
LoBello also says restoration was important, and in the three years working on the project, the house saw its parking area, border wall, water feature and more freshly modernized. And to connect these new and improved spaces, decking and walkways that mimicked the design’s horizontal lines were installed.
And to (hopefully) make Wright proud of what his design has become, Mariani Landscape’s “Mid-Century Mastery” project won the company a gold award from the NALP’s 2024 Awards of Excellence program.
