Frieda and Henry J. Neils House

Minneapolis, United States

Exterior only

Visible from the street; the inside is private.

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Built in Minneapolis in the early 1950s, the Frieda and Henry J. Neils House is a striking example of Frank Lloyd Wright's post-World War II Usonian vision for democratic, affordable housing. Designed through close collaboration between Wright and his clients—Henry a stone and architectural materials distributor and trustee of a marble company—the modernist home breaks from Wright's typical practice in two remarkable ways: it is his only residence to feature marble walls, constructed from salvaged blocks stained to better suit the occupants' preferences, and it employs aluminum window frames manufactured by Neils' own company rather than Wright's customary wooden frames. The L-shaped, single-story structure overlooks Cedar Lake, with its design dividing the home into distinct "active" and "quiet" zones. The active portion centers on a soaring living room with a 17-foot vaulted ceiling and panoramic lake views, while the quiet side accommodates bedrooms and a gallery leading to a discreetly positioned entrance, culminating in a three-car carport. Located at 2801 Burnham Boulevard and now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the house remains privately owned by the Neils family.