Henry Neils House

You can read about the history and designation of the Henry Neils House historic landmark.

About


Circa 1985


2006

Address: 2801 Burnham Boulevard

Neighborhood: Cedar-Isles-Dean

Construction Date: 1950-1951

Contractor: Unknown

Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright

Architectural Style: Usonian Style

Historic Use: Private Residence

Current Use: Private Residence

Date of Local Designation: 1986

Date of National Register Designation: 2004

Area(s) of Significance: Master architect

Period of Significance: 1950 -

Historic Profile: Designed by famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the Henry Neils House is significant for its association with a master builder and its artistic value. It took Henry Neils, the president of Flour City Ornamental Ironworks, over a year to get an appointment with Frank Lloyd Wright who insisted that he did not design houses within cities. After Neils sent Wright a set of photographs of his lot and its view of Cedar Lake, Wright agreed to meet the family. The Neils House is unique for Wright because it utilizes innovative materials with which he didn’t typically work. Wright deviated from his preferred materials of brick and cypress to use scrap marble, larch, and aluminum window frames. The house was also innovative in all of the mechanical systems were stored behind the fireplace and through its use of radiant floor heating. The house has artistic value through its unique design and powerful exterior features. The low-pitched, far-reaching roof hovers over the ribbon windows, and the structural strength of the windows provide the appearance that the roof is floating. The house is thoroughly detailed and custom designed in almost every aspect.

Photo Credits:

Circa 1985, Unknown

2006, Minneapolis CPED

Works Cited:

KKE Architects, "National Register of Historic Places – Nomination Form," December 1982.

Updated: February 2007

Contact us

Community Planning & Economic Development

Heritage Preservation

Phone

612-673-3000

Address

Public Service Center
505 Fourth Ave. S., Room 320
Minneapolis, MN 55415