Lamp House
Joan Bailey, OMPNA Publicity Chair
Nearly invisible from East Mifflin or North Butler streets rests a turn
of the century innovation. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for childhood
friend Robert Lamp, the house at 22 North Butler was dubbed as 'a new 'American'
house' in 1903.
Nestled in the middle of the block on one of the highest points of the Isthmus,
and protected from the street by the buildings that surround it, the Lamp
House is one of the best examples of Wright's early work in Madison. Lamp's
intention from the beginning was to shield his home from the street while
maintaining a large yard to gain a sense of privacy in the heart of the
city.
Completed in 1903, the Lamp house was a novel solution to Madison's then
downtown housing shortage. The city's population went from 19,164 in 1900
to 24,301 - a 27% increase - leaving numerous students and white-collar
workers in need of affordable housing. Developers doubled lots by dividing
existing ones in half, and then constructed two and three story apartment
buildings.
The Lamp House was originally designed as a one family dwelling with seven
rooms and leaded casement windows. The two-story building was built of
white brick, and constructed in a cube shape with a flat roof for a roof
garden. Lamp used to keep a lemon tree and a parrot there, along with many
canaries in summer. A low concrete wall runs in front of the house with
steps leading to the door.
The original interior had red cypress woodwork throughout, built-in bookcases,
dining room shelving, a large bay window, French doors, an open stairwell,
and casement windows with diamond-shaped panes. The cypress trim ran throughout
the house, and was said to open up the space by making the ceilings appear
taller.
Legend has it that the house contained an elevator to accomodate Lamp's
disability; however, there was none. Instead, it is believed that Wright
may have incorporated slightly wider doorways and narrow vertical windows
on the stairwells to assist Lamp.
Wright designed other similar cube-shaped buildings at about the same time.
These are variations on the Lamp House, and most do not have a roof garden.
A concrete house design for the April, 1907 Ladies Home Journal was very
similar and advertised as fireproof. The Lamp House is also similar to
the Larkin Building in Buffalo, New York, which Wright was working on at
the same time.
Sources for this article include The Old market Place Neighborhood: A
Walking Tour, and Wisconsin History Magazine.
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