Chances are that if you didn’t know this Prairie School masterpiece was there you would drive right by it without even noticing it. Located on a small lot on a short street near Lake of the Isles, the Purcell-Cutts house is surrounded by big homes built in the styles popular when it was built in 1913. It is set back 30 feet from the street so it is easy to miss unless you are looking for it. The ingenious positioning of the house means the windows face the neighbors’ backyard gardens instead of their houses, making it feel like it has expansive grounds even though the lot itself is narrow.
It is hard to imagine now how revolutionary this design was when it was built over 100 years ago by William Purcell… who had worked alongside Frank Lloyd Wright and George Elmslie… who had worked under Louis Sullivan in Chicago.
When Purcell moved his family to Minneapolis he specifically chose a narrow city lot with unobstructed views of Lake of the Isles to build his home that was in sharp contrast in both size and style to the revival style homes popular at that time. With an open living area 50 feet long adaptable for multiple uses, this was the forerunner of today’s open floor plans… except for the kitchen, which was not to be seen!!
In Purcell’s own words…
In so far as the house represents a departure from customary forms it does so because in designing it a conscious attempt has been made to first establish a real modern American family life, and then give it expression in real forms. This is indeed a departure.
Its open spaces make it feel more spacious than its modest size of about 2,400 sq ft, and its 500 leaded art glass windows give it the feeling of a glass jewel box. Purcell did the architectural design and he invited his friend Elmslie from Chicago to do the detail design work, including the windows, stenciling, built-ins and furniture which flow throughout the entire home in a unified design.
The Purcell family only lived in Minneapolis a short time, and when they sold the house in 1919 it was purchased by Anson and Edna Cutts, who lived in it for 66 years. They realized the architectural significance of the house and made virtually no changes except for adding a detached garage. The Purcell-Cutts House was bequeathed to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts in 1985 and after restoration work it has been open for public tours since 1990 as one of the most significant examples of Prairie School architecture in the country. They welcome visitors from throughout the world.
Located at 2328 Lake Place in Minneapolis, the Purcell-Cutts house is open for tours throughout the year on the second weekend of the month.
From Thanksgiving through the end of December it is decorated for the holidays circa 1915 and Winterlights tours are led by costumed docents every weekend.
Contact Minneapolis Institute of Art for details and tickets.
Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results – shensrud@homesmsp.com – 612-419-0560
