To spot the Frederick C. Bogk House, look for a solid, blocky building wrapped in buff-colored bricks, framed by wide eaves and strong geometric lines right ahead of you, set a little back from the curb on your right.
Welcome to what might be Milwaukee’s most mysterious cube: the Frederick C. Bogk House! Now, try picturing 1917-horses clip-clopping by, Milwaukee alderman Frederick Bogk standing proudly as his new house takes shape while the air buzzes with the sound of hammers and saws. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, this “prairie fortress” looks like it could withstand a stampede or two. Wright was channeling a lot of emotion after the tragic events at his own home, and you can almost feel that intense, resolute energy in these window columns and solid stacks of brick.
Imagine Frank Lloyd Wright, America’s favorite architectural rebel, sketching the plans just after the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo-he fused strong Japanese influences right onto Lake Drive! Those tall, leaded glass windows filter sunlight just right, and the decorative concrete bands seem to hug the house under the sweeping, low-pitched roof. Here’s a secret: the front door hides sneakily on the side by the driveway, almost as if saying, “You have to know me to find me.”
Inside, the living room unfurls across the front, goldfish pond sparkling by the wall, with light streaming through art glass designed by Wright himself. Up a few steps, the dining room waits for you to imagine clinking glasses from a past era. Four bedrooms, a maid’s nook over the garage, and built-in nooks and furniture fill this not-so-ordinary home. Robert and Barbara Elsner cherished it from 1955 and even got Wright’s stamp of approval in a letter. Today, the carpet is a faithful reproduction of Wright’s original design-yes, even the floors are a masterpiece. If you start humming in awe, don’t worry-the Bogk House is used to inspiring a chorus or two!
