The Westcott House, the product of arguably the most important architect of the modern era, was designed in 1906 and built in 1908. In the early 1940s, the interior alterations—the conversion of the open floor plan into a multi-unit apartment building—changed the architecture so significantly that it no longer reflected the design intent of its architect.
Due to these drastic alterations, the Westcott House remained an undiscovered relic for many years- a lost Wright artifact. Through the cooperative efforts of the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy and the Westcott House Foundation, today the Westcott House is an important rediscovery, a notable, newly-unearthed and revitalized example of Wright's legacy.
To preserve and interpret the Westcott House and to inspire creativity through architecture and design education.
To advance the role of architecture and design while building connections among diverse people.
Placemaking: helping connect communities, people, places, and economic opportunity through physical spaces
Learning: serving a diverse local, regional, and national community through distinctive in-person and virtual experiences focused on architecture and design education
Creativity: inspiring creativity through powerful aesthetic experiences of architectural spaces, and hands-on architecture and design education programs
Inclusion: creating safe, welcoming and nurturing experiences for everyone who is open to exploring Westcott legacy and the larger universe of architecture and design
As a small arts non-profit, we are committed to making the world a better place while pursuing our mission of preserving and interpreting the Westcott House, and inspiring creativity through architecture and design education.
We believe that the Westcott House should be a place of truth-telling and inclusivity, benefiting a wide variety of people from disparate and diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and abilities.
We believe that the historic preservation organizations must actively advance justice and equity for all people. We have an obligation to confront and address structural racism within our own institutions.
We believe that architecture and design education can provide some of the most effective tools to reach audiences who have been marginalized. It starts with us recognizing and intentionally engaging people who have been systemically and historically excluded.
We believe that creativity and innovation are intrinsic parts of the human experience, and the arts have the power to generate a shared sense of joy, hope and sense of belonging. We are committed to harnessing the power of the arts to welcome, inspire, and unite people. We acknowledge that there is no true diversity without practicing inclusion.
Our leadership is committed to investing time and resources to make diversity, equity and inclusion an intentional practice.
