When possible, Frank Lloyd Wright designed homes that featured a concealing front façade, ensuring privacy, and a rear façade, welcoming in nature.  

Rear façade

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Photograph by Sean Dungan

Inspired by their friends the Zimmermans, the Kalils approached Wright to design a house in the quiet and wooded North End of Manchester.

Presentation drawing for the Kalil House, 1955

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Avery_FLW_4694_001

The North End neighborhood was intentionally laid out with large lots to maintain open space that encouraged informal garden planning as seen in the Kalil House landscape design. Similar to the Zimmerman House, the Kalil House is situated on a diagonal.

Floor plan with landscape design, 1955

The North End neighborhood was laid out with large lots to maintain open space single family homes. Similar to the Zimmerman House, the Kalil House is oriented on a diagonal to the street.

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Like many of Wright’s Usonian designs, the house is integrated into its surrounding landscape: the flat roof mimics the horizontal landscape. This elevation drawing also shows the pattern of distinctive concrete blocks that serve as both walls and decorative features. 

Exterior and interior elevations, 1955

Like many of Wright’s Usonian designs, the house is integrated into its surrounding landscape: the flat roof mirrors the gently sloping site. This elevation drawing also shows the pattern of distinctive concrete blocks that serve as both walls and decorative features. 

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The house was constructed of interlocking concrete blocks that were cast in custom made steel molds. 
There are thirteen different block shapes each with their own design. 

Concrete block details, undated

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Apart from a specifically requested indoor grill, cooking was not a priority to the Kalils, and thus Wright designed a compact, efficient kitchen. 

Plan and elevation of kitchen, 1955

The Kalil’s requested an indoor charcoal grill which Wright included in his design for a compact and efficient kitchen. 

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Sections with kitchen and utility areas, 1955

Near completion, the Kalils decided to add a separate guest house. Wright’s on-site apprentice, Morton Delson, designed this modest structure utilizing concrete blocks left over from the construction of the house. The little cottage was only used for storage. 

Plan and elevations for guest house, undated

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Since some electrical conduits were cast into the concrete floor and blocks, the electrical infrastructure was carefully planned in advance. 

General plan with electrical and plumbing specifications, 1955

Since some electrical conduits were cast into the concrete blocks, the electrical infrastructure was carefully planned in advance. 

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Based on Wright’s aesthetic, the Kalil House apprentice Morton Delson proposed designs for a custom-made, built-in furniture cabinet that accommodated a stereo system, a radio, and a TV.

Built-in cabinet for TV, hi-fi, and radio, undated

Based on Wright’s aesthetic, the Kalil house apprentice, Morton Delson, proposed designs for a custom-made built-in furniture cabinet that accommodated a stereo system, a radio, and a TV.

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Based on Wright’s aesthetic, the Kalil House on-site apprentice, Morton Delson, proposed designs for built-in furniture for the bedrooms and study. 

Furniture for bedrooms and study, undated

Based on Wright’s aesthetic, the Kalil House apprentice, Morton Delson, proposed designs for built-in furniture for the bedrooms and study. 

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Wright often designed Usonian homes with a carport as a cost saving measure. He found garages expensive and susceptible to accumulating clutter.

South and west elevations, 1955

Wright often designed Usonian homes with a carport as a cost saving measure. He found garages expensive and susceptible to accumulating clutter. 

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A selection of the original architectural drawings and plans for the Kalil House in Manchester, New Hampshire. 

Drawings and  Plans

Front façade

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Carport rather than a garage was a cost cutting measure with an added benefit of a picture window with an expansive view of the Uncanoonuc Mountains.

Carport

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KH Carport

The discreetly placed main entrance is a typical Frank Lloyd Wright feature of domestic buildings.


Main entrance

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The seamless passage from compressed spaces into expansive spaces engenders the structure with theatrical dynamics.  


Front door

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KH Front Door

Entering the house visitors are confronted by a concrete wall, with imposing views to the left and right.

Entrance hall looking toward the living room

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KH Hallway

From a compressed entrance, the house opens dramatically into the expansive common room.

Living room looking southwest towards the backyard

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As a cost saving measure, Usonian homes often combined the living and dining area (extreme right).

Living room looking toward the fireplace

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KH_Center_Wall_3_238

The kitchen, often at the center of Usonian homes, is easily accessed from the outside porch and living and dining rooms.

Looking east from the living room out the patio door

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KH Kitchen Door to Patio

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Views on Art: Breaking the Box 
Join us as we explore the way Frank Lloyd Wright broke the box in the Currier’s two Wright-designed houses.

The kitchen, often at the center of Usonian homes, is easily accessed from the outside porch and living and dining rooms.


Kitchen

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From the kitchen and dining room, visitors can access the back yard and patio.

Patio

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KH Patio

The main bedroom is small, but offers privacy and lots of light, especially from ribbon windows cresting the walls.  

Main bedroom looking toward the main bath on the left

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KH_Master_Bed_3_807

The main bathroom is fitted with utilities that conform in color to the Philippian mahogany panels.  The tub is sunken and below grade assuring privacy, with plenty of natural light streaming in from the ribbon windows.  


Main bathroom

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KH_Master_Bath_813

Usonian homes often appear to be wedded to the earth.  


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Frank Lloyd Wright homes are noted for the dramatic, pleasing views.  

Hallway from the entrance looking toward the bedrooms

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KH_Hall_8_791

Standing on the east side of the property looking southwest toward the exterior wall of the master bedroom

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KH Side View

Recent photographs of the Kalil House in Manchester, NH.

Photo Gallery

In 1954, the Kalils wrote Frank Lloyd Wright to express their admiration for his architecture, especially the Zimmerman House, and to inquire if he would design a house for them. 

Dr. and Mrs. Toufic H. Kalil to Frank Lloyd Wright, July 1, 1954

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1954-07-01

Eugene Masselink, Wright’s secretary at Taliesin, replied with the exciting news that Wright was interested in designing a home for the Kalils and that he needed more information about their requirements and financial leeway before he started the process. 

Eugene Masselink, Secretary to Frank Lloyd Wright, to Dr. and Mrs. Toufic H. Kalil, July 5, 1955

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1954-07-05_Masselink(FLW)Letter

The Kalils offered their vision of a home, a tentative budget, and a brief description of their lifestyle. The Kalils emphasized their dedication to their work in the hospital and their busy, everyday life. For instance, they requested a study with space for books, x-ray illuminators, and a dictating machine. 

Dr. and Mrs. Toufic H. Kalil to Frank Lloyd Wright, August 28, 1954

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1954-08-28_KalilLetter_Page_1

The Kalils were eager to start the building project and wrote to Wright’s office asking about the project timeline.

Dr. and Mrs. Toufic H. Kalil to Eugene Masselink, Secretary to Frank Lloyd Wright, September 16, 1954

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1954-09-16_KalilLetter

Masselink notified the Kalils about Wright’s travel plans. They made an appointment to meet with him in person in New York City in October of 1954 where he was working on the Guggenheim Museum.

Secretary to Frank Lloyd Wright, Masselink, to Dr. and Mrs. Toufic H. Kalil, October 10, 1954

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1954-10-07_Masselink(FLW)Letter

Wright’s office was busy and communication was slow. The Kalils expressed impatience with the slow pace of the project and sought reassurance from Masselink. 

Dr. and Mrs. Toufic H. Kalil to Eugene Masselink, Secretary to Frank Lloyd Wright, November 2, 1954

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1954-11-2_KalilLetter

The Kalils sent a telegram to Wright’s office to obtain missing drawings for concrete blocks and furniture details. 

Telegram from Dr. Kalil to Frank Lloyd Wright’s studio, September 9, 1955

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1955-09-09_Kalil_telegram

The Kalils submitted a building permit application to the City of Manchester and described their project as a “one-family reinforced concrete dwelling with carport.”

Dr. T. H. Kalil, Application for building permit, Manchester, New Hampshire, October 26, 1955

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1955-10-26_KalilHouse_BuildingApplication

The Kalils relied on numerous craftsmen and contractors to build their house. In this letter, the Kalils inquired about air conditioning units. 

Dr. Toufic H. Kalil to Carrier Corporation, November 19, 1955

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1955-11-19_KalilLetter

The Kalils reported satisfactory progress: the footings and foundations have been laid and the concrete blocks are being cast. They also expressed appreciation for Morton Delson, Wright’s onsite apprentice. However, they were concerned with some of Wright’s design decisions about heating, anticipating reoccurring issues with the house’s temperatures. 

Dr. and Mrs. Toufic H. Kalil to Frank Lloyd Wright, January 31, 1956

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1956-01-31_KalilLetter (2)

Wright liked to explore new materials and processes. The experimental roof covering at the Kalil house led to some leaking which was eventually resolved when a more traditional technique was used. 

Morten Delson, Wright’s onsite apprentice during construction, to Dr. Kalil, July 24, 1962

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1962-07-24_DelsonLetter

Wright’s studio produced a 34-page document that outlined all of the specifications for the project, for example, as seen in the instructions for the formulas for concrete mixes. 

Frank Lloyd Wright, specifications for the construction of the Dr. and Mrs. Toufic H. Kalil house

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undated_SpecificationsHouseForDr&MrsTouficKalil (dragged)

A selection of letters between the Kalils and the Wright studios.

Historic Documents

Designed in 1955, the KALIL HOUSE is one of only seven Usonian Automatics constructed. Wright termed the style “automatic” because they were intended to be easily and quickly built. Dr. Toufic and Mildred Kalil were inspired to commission the house by their close friends and neighbors Dr. Isadore and Lucille Zimmerman, who had commissioned a Wright house a few years earlier on the same street.