Thomas P. Hardy House (1905)

From the street, there really isn’t much of the home that is visible. The stucco-finished front is, like most homes on this street, almost flush with the current sidewalk; the hill drops quite quickly away from the street and down towards the lake. The neighboring house to the north has almost zero set-back: there are literally only a few inches of space between the two structures. It would be a challenge, at best, to imagine anything but a claustrophobic feel once inside the house with the neighboring house so close.

There is no other home to the south but neither can one see much, if any, of the rear of the house from the south. Wright’s design though, is an incredible example his ability to fit a design to any particular site; this home is literally conjoined with the bluff. If you were foolish enough to try to get around to the back side of the house – without sliding down the steep embankment – you would see what a marvelous view Mr. Hardy had: two-story windows, living room and a magnificent terrace on the rear of the building allow one an unobstructed view straight out onto the beautiful grandeur of Lake Michigan.

There are three stories total – not counting the basement – with an upper story balcony, creating seven levels, all connected by stairways, providing a very open feel inside the structure.

Wright’s entryway for the Hardy house is literally at the line of the sidewalk, with one apparent entrance at each end of the building. Windows on the front side are scarce and a rather substantial stucco wall reinforces the sense of privacy from Main Street. There is however, a thin band of square-shaped windows that runs below the second story soffits that adds intrigue.