In his long and storied career, Frank Lloyd Wright sought to develop a new type of American architecture for clients of “modest means.” He referred to these designs as Usonian, a term intended to capture a uniquely American character. While his first Usonian, the Herbert Jacobs House, proved that high design could be affordable, the Robert Berger House in San Anselmo stands as one of the most authentic realizations of Wright’s dream: a home actually built by the hands of its owner.
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Preservation and Management
The Berger House remains a private residence and serves as a profound monument to the “do-it-yourself” spirit Wright hoped to inspire. Unlike many other Usonian projects where professional contractors were eventually hired, Robert Berger—a mechanical engineer and professor—personally executed nearly every aspect of the build. Today, the home is a meticulously maintained piece of architectural history that showcases the endurance of Wright’s diamond-module planning.
A Specific Challenge
In the early 1950s, Robert Berger approached Wright with a specific challenge: he wanted an expandable, inexpensive home that one person could build alone. Wright accepted the challenge, agreeing to a modest $1,500 architectural fee. The resulting design utilized Wright’s signature desert masonry style—thick walls of native stone and concrete—which Berger painstakingly assembled piece by piece.
A Real DIY Project
Construction began in 1953, but the process was slow and deliberate. For years, the Berger family lived in sleeping bags on the site while the core living area took shape. It wasn’t until 1957 that the structure was enclosed enough for the family to move inside. Working under the guidance of Wright’s San Francisco associate, Aaron Green, Berger continued to work on the home for over two decades. Following Robert’s death in 1973, his wife Gloria ensured the vision was completed by hiring a professional carpenter to finish the remaining details and the custom Wright-designed furniture.
Plan Your Visit
📍Location
The Robert Berger House is located in San Anselmo, California. It is situated on a hillside in Marin County, surrounded by lush, native vegetation.
🛑Curb-Side Viewing Only
Please be aware that this Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home is a privately owned residence and is not open to the public for tours. We kindly ask that you respect the owners’ privacy and refrain from trespassing on the property. The home is best appreciated from the public right-of-way, though its hillside position and dense trees make it quite secluded.
🧳Make it a Trip
San Anselmo is a charming destination in the heart of Marin County, located just a few miles away from Wright’s largest realized project, the Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael. You can easily pair a respectful drive-by of the Berger House with a visit to the Civic Center for a formal tour. From there, you can continue south to San Francisco to visit the V.C. Morris Gift Shop (now ISAIA) or head across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge to the East Bay to see the Maynard Buehler House in Orinda.
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Kimpton Alton Fisherman’s Wharf: Pet-friendly, luxurious hotel on the waterfront
Additional Resources & Inspired Products
Find unique products, books, and gifts inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy at our Amazon storefront: Wright at Home!