House’s History

Commissioned by Lloyd B. Taft, 1978.

When Taft explained that that he and his wife didn’t want a large house, Gwathmey and Siegel proposed a series of wings linked together by freestanding walls. Behind the plain façade was a network of discrete living areas incorporating a sheltered courtyard and a broad terrace. “This is really what makes architecture,” Siegel explains. “What do you see of the residence, and how do you appreciate it when you are driving up to it and parking the car? What do you see within it during different seasons or times of the day? How do you move through it and how do you ultimately capitalize on that?”

Sold to Robert W. and Carol Olson, 1987. 

Minor alterations by Carl Strauss Associates around 1990 and by Stewart Maxwell, Jr. in 1994.  New outdoor patios in 2005.

Bob and Carol Olson opened the door to the Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati’s annual Great House Tour, but 2012 was much different than previous years because after 25 years of living there, the Olsons put the house back on the market.

Purchased by the Frutkin family, 2014.

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General

• Arhcitect: Charles Gwathmey of New York Firm of Gwathmey- Siegel and Associates
• Builder: Don Curless (Also did 1989 project)
• All built-in woodwork by Flottemesch & Son, including 1989 and 1994 projects
• Purchased in 1988 by Robert and Carol Olson
• Cincinnati architect Carl Strauss designed 1989 project:
• new garage built in place of original green house
• original garage turned into downstairs family room
• original outdoor walkway between main living area and new family room enclosed with glass, front door moved toward driveway
• Cincinnati architect Stewart Maxwell designed new kitchen in 1995 and new outdoor

Architecture Reviews/Features

(most document are viewable on Media Features)

• 1980 – reviewed in New York Times by its architecture critic Paul Goldberger
• 1981 – reviewed in AIA Journal by Senior Editor Stanley Abercrombie
• 1983 – featured in GA houses
• 1984 – featured in Charles Gwathmey and Robert Siegel: Buildings and Projects 1964-1984
• 1997 – featured in Great Houses of the Queen City, photographs by Alice Weston, text by Walter Langsam
• 2013 – featured in Architectural Digest: “Charles Gwathmey’s Modernist Masterpieces.”

Recent Architectural Tours of 4320 Drake Rd.

• 2013 – Great House Tour presented by the Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati. The tour was conducted by Robert Siegel, the co-founder of Gwathmey Siegel and associates, who worked with Gwathmey on the original design of the house
• 2012 – tour for the cf3 (Cincinnati Form Follows Function) modern architecture society
• 2012 – featured in tour of modern homes in Cincinnati arranged by a national firm, Modern Home Tours, LCC.
• 2010 – tour for Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy’s Annual National Conference, site of reception for major donors
• 2006 – lecture/tour by DAAP Dean Jay Chatterjee for Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center donors
• 2006 – lecture/tour by DAAP faculty member for Cincinnati Mercantile Library donors
• 2004 – tour/reception for Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati donors

Master Bedroom

• Lighting panel controls many lights throughout house
• Additional security system controls

Master Dressing Room

• Chute to downstairs laundry bin

Sound System

• Sonos system installed in 2010- operated off wi-fi
• Controls speakers in living room, kitchen, master bedroom sitting area, upstairs office, family room and central outdoor patio – same or different music can be played in each area
• Can source programming from Computer, radio, on-line providers, docked ipod, CD player or other components that can be added
• Two hand-held controller units control all functions remotely

Roof Patio

• Additional pavers could make this another entertainment area

HVAC

• Main heating – natural gas, hot water coils under terrazzo on first floor, hot water in-wall pipes on second floor
• Supplemental heating – electric units serving northwest corner upstairs and family room downstairs
• Main A/C- serves main living area
• Additional A/C – one unit serves northwest corner upstairs and family room downstairs. Second unit serves northeast wing upstairs and exercise room/kitchenette downstairs
• Central humidifier/air cleaner system throughout house

Interior Wall Colors

• Designed by Gwathmey

UV Protection

• “Solar Tint” Covering all house windows protects furniture, rugs, etc. form UV rays

Aeration/Septic Tank

• Located downhill off southeast part of property

Garage

• First floor car area is heated
• Second floor has rough plumbing-can be converted to living space

Patio Areas

• Pots watered drip irrigation system installed in 2005
• Isamu Noguhi (“Mountains Forming”) and Dennis Baker outdoor sculptures not included, but owner still consider offers. Mountains Forming is no. 9 of 18; no. 11 sold in 2002 at Christie’s for $35,850 (plus auctioneer’s 20% commission)
• Patio pots outside kitchen filed with perennial herbs
• 4 outdoor speakers in central patio
• swimming pool and patio lights controlled from house

Outdoor “Pipe” sculpture on South Lawn

• Designed by Gwathmey
• Lighting controlled form house

Front Door Area

• Front door designed by Cincinnati artist Cindy Kessler
• Stainless steel relief by Cincinnati artist Ted Gantz depicting original Gwathmey Siegel design concept
• Security system entry pane located inside “side” door

Living Room

• Ceiling light bulbs replaceable with extendable pole in front closet

Family Room

• Antique (circa 1900) slate pool table included

Kitchen

• Filtered instant hot/cold water tap and another filtered cold water tap
• Natural gas dryer
• Built-in washer/dryer

Wet Bar

• Ice maker uses filtered water
• Additional security system controls

Exercise room/kitchenette

• Additional built in washer/dryer