Penfield, Louis A., House
Why it's listed
Overlooking the bluffs of the Chagrin River in Willoughby Hills, Ohio, this two-story house of about 1800 square feet was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1953 and completed in 1955. It follows his Usonian approach: a concrete slab with no basement or attic, walls of concrete block and wood with cemesto board paneling, and large areas of glass beneath a projecting flat roof. Inside, a two-story living room looks toward the river and cliffs, a central masonry fireplace anchors the plan, and much of the seating, shelving and furniture is built in. Bedrooms were given eight-foot ceilings to suit the original owner, Louis A. Penfield, a masonry specialist who asked Wright for a Usonian home. The house is valued as an unaltered work by a master architect, one of only two Usonian houses known in Ohio. About 15 acres are included as its setting, since the site and views shaped the design.
Significance in brief: It is significant under Criterion C as an example of Usonian design by master architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It is described as an unaltered Usonian house, one of only two known in Ohio, and it retains integrity of design and setting. Although less than fifty years old, it meets Criteria Consideration G because of the exceptional importance of Wright's work.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 96001622, listed February 7, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2203 River Rd., Willoughby Hills |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | February 7, 1997 |
| Reference number | 96001622 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1955 |
| Architect / builder | Wright, Frank Lloyd |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement/Wrightian: Usonian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a single dwelling; described as unaltered and retaining integrity of design and setting. |
| Acreage | 15 |
| Coordinates | 41.61956, -81.40836 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 96001622.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6687955
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.