HHL Architects has been working with Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House for over 30 years. The property is a designated New York State Historic Site. We continue to consult with the owner and provide design services for ongoing repairs, renovations, restoration, and preservation activities. Work began in 1992 when the Martin House Restoration Corporation (MHRC) was formed with the mission to restore and manage Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House. HHL began the reconstruction of the complex to its original condition working for The University at Buffalo (UB) – the owner at the time, and New York State’s University Construction Fund, to restore the roof. This resulted in a multi-year engagement, including searching for materials such as the roman brick, mosaic floor tile, handmade terra cotta roof tiles, art glass windows, etc. HHL’s research included visiting the Frank Lloyd Wright archives at UB, the Home & Studio, and Taliesin West, to study original artifacts, specifications, and photographs.

In 2003, while working on the main complex, HHL Architects acted in multiple roles of; curator, designer, and fabrication partner to create an exhibition of more than 70 art glass windows from the estate. The exhibition ran from 1999 to 2003, showing at the Burchfield-Penny Art Center in Buffalo, NY, the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, OR, and the Boca Raton Museum of Art in Boca Raton, FL.

In 2010, we renovated the 19th century-built historic home adjacent to the estate, turning it into a contemporary and efficient office space which now serves as the business center for the Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House. In 2018, we began restoration work on the George Barton House, also located on the estate, which is the home originally designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for Darwin Martin’s sister and her husband. Multiple phases of work began with terrace and roof restoration, foundation repairs, and art glass window and masonry restoration.