The Zimmerman House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, offers an intimate look at the renowned architect’s mid-century Usonian style of homes. Commissioned by Isadore and Lucille Zimmerman in 1949, the house was finished a year later and was described by its occupants as “Heaven,” and “the most beautiful house in the world.”
They stated, “We wish to avoid adding a new antique to the city’s architecture.” Indeed, they intended their house to be a contemporary statement: “I expect our proposed house will have a positive educational role to play in our community.” The Zimmerman House was one of Manchester’s first modern buildings.
The house was bequeathed to the Currier Museum in 1988 and is now open to the public. A shuttle runs from the museum to the Zimmermans’ home, where visitors can view the structure as it was when the family lived within its walls. The original residents’ collection of exquisite art still adorns the interior, while a tranquil garden (also designed by Wright) exists just outside. The Zimmermans were known to host live music on Tuesday evenings, with visitors sitting in cypress chairs or lying on the ground to absorb the nature, light, and music that permeated the house. Modern visitors are required to wear booties to protect the house’s integrity, but the same beguiling atmosphere remains.
Listed on the National Register of Historic places, the Zimmerman House is constructed entirely of brick and Georgia cypress. It is a single-story, two-bedroom home with a simple, sophisticated, and profoundly beautiful ambiance. Few of Wright’s designs are kept so true to their original design, unaltered by new residents or modern designers. All who appreciate the groundbreaking work of Frank Lloyd Wright are sure to be enthralled by the beauty and unparalleled insight offered by the Zimmerman House.
