Katie Finds the Wright Architect (First Appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle)

     Carmel has the distinction of a stunning Frank Lloyd Wright home visible on a far point beyond the beach and above the surf.   San Francisco boasts a Wright building which lies on the north side of Maiden Lane and was built as the V.C. Morris store for gifts and homewares.  Marin County possesses an extraordinary example of the Wright genius in its Civic Center, where visitors can arrange for docent tours through buildings whose every facet was designed by the master architect.        

An architectural treasure lies almost hidden in a cul-de-sac off a quiet Orinda road.  Aside from the Hanna home on the Stanford University campus, it is one of the few homes in the immediate San Francisco Bay Area designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. 

In 1948 Katie and Maynard Buehler decided to build a home on their Orinda property.  Their first acre cost $1,850, the second acre $5,000, and the third, $7,500, as they purchased more land to provide privacy and space for a large garden.  After having admired pictures of Frank Lloyd Wright homes, Katie wrote to ask if Mr. Wright would build for them.  Weeks passed without an acknowledgement, but one day the telephone rang and a voice said, “This is your architect.”  Thus began an interesting and frequently trying relationship.

Mr. Wright came to inspect the property before he began the plans.  His drawings took four months, and the house was completed in one year.    

Mrs. Buehler said that the master always wore his signature wide-brimmed hat, cape, long chain, fob and watch.  In addition, he carried a cane with which he tapped and tested every board in every inch of the building.  His manner could well be described as arrogant.  She said, “he was supremely tickled with his talent; confidence oozed from every pore.”    

Everything had to be the way Mr. Wright decreed, including a small kitchen rather than the larger one Mrs. Buehler suggested.  His comment was, “Madam, you don’t seem to understand that all women have been emancipated from the kitchen.”  As it turned out, he was correct about the size.  The kitchen was well-designed and worked efficiently.  He also told the Buehlers, “You do not build down to please your clients.”

As the building progressed, a Wright representative was on hand every day to monitor the work.  Mr. Wright appeared occasionally.  Katie Buehler remembers another “This is your architect” call from San Francisco.  Wright had taken a suite at the St. Francis Hotel and invited them for a 7:30 Saturday breakfast.  The Buehlers traditionally had a later breakfast on Saturday mornings, so Katie asked, “7:30?”  Wright said, “I can easily make it 6:30.”  They were there at 7:30.  The suite was lovely, and the breakfast good.  Maynard Buehler received the bill for both.

The front door of the handsome redwood house is reached by a walkway under a low overhang.  The beautiful copper roof never leaks.  Once in the entry hall, a turn to the right leads to a large curved living room with a long upholstered banquette against tall windows.   The banquette and coffee tables were designed by Wright as was the dining room furniture visible through the open end of the living room.  The dining table was assembled in triangles, and the chairs have low curved backs to assure an unimpeded view of the garden while seated in the living room.  Gold leaf covers the tall slanted ceiling of the living room, as well as the lower one of the dining room.

 On one occasion the Buehlers drove Mr. Wright to Napa to inspect certain building materials.  Their route took them past the new high school of which the Buehlers and the community were rightfully proud.  Wright’s comment:  “It looks like a shoe factory.  A cheap shoe factory.”

As for the building materials, Mr. Wright saw a pink-toned basalt brick that he decided would be better than the gray bricks already in place.  Maynard Buehler whispered to his wife, “Over my dead body.”  The bricks were not changed.

A hallmark of Wright architecture is the varying heights of rooms and hallways.  When the building was completed, a young county inspector took exception to the low ceilings and called his office.  His superior must have asked who the architect was, because the young man was heard to say, “Some guy by the name of Wright.”  His boss arrived within the hour to grant approval.

The house sits on three and one-half acres of garden landscaped by the gifted Henry Matsutani, who had worked on the renovation of the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park.  Given a free hand, Matsutani designed a Shin garden with bridges, statuary, ponds, and waterfalls.  The sound of water helped to quiet background traffic noise.  A fence on the edge of the property had to be erected to prevent sight-seers from parking on the road and walking down through the garden to view the house.  The Buehlers were disconcerted by critics who found their wish for privacy   inconsiderate, especially because they generously welcomed group tours to their home and garden.

Henry Matsutani and the Buehlers worked together for many years to produce a beautiful garden.  Matsutani was always adding something and never really finished his masterpiece.  He visited frequently, often timing his arrival to join the Buehlers for breakfast on the terrace.  He seemed to enjoy American breakfasts, particularly bacon, eggs, and heavily buttered toast.  Maynard Buehler had to leave for his office, but Katie sat with their guest while he admired his handiwork.  He sometimes said, “I love to look at this, because I did such a good job.”

Frank Lloyd Wright put the stamp of approval on his own work.  When he came back to visit, his comment was, “I am glad to see you are living graciously in my house.”