WILMETTE, IL — Wilmette residents Amy and Eric Bauer will receive a 2026 Wright Spirit Award from the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy for the restoration and renovation of the Baker House, a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home at 507 Lake Ave. in Wilmette.
The conservancy announced four Wright Spirit Awards and two Conservancy Awards for 2026 on Thursday.
The Wright Spirit Award has been given annually since 1991 to recognize extraordinary commitment to preserving the built works of Frank Lloyd Wright and enriching his legacy, according to the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy. The Conservancy Award is given selectively, on the initiative of the staff, to honor those who have provided special assistance in carrying out the education and preservation mission of the organization.
"Wright's buildings are treasured by countless people around the globe - but, each year, it is the extraordinary efforts of a dedicated few that we celebrate with our awards," said executive director Barbara Gordon. "Their work to preserve Wright's legacy fuels our movement, strengthening our resolve to preserve these remarkable places so they can inspire for generations to come."
According to the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, the Prairie-style Baker House has a T-shaped design similar to Wright's Isabel Roberts House, another Illinois residence built in 1908. The foundation said the design also stemmed from another residential project that fell through after Wright's project with client William Norman Guthrie was called off, and that a near-exact plan was then submitted to Baker.
The foundation said Baker was a trained engineer and lawyer who worked in the electric service industry. Baker and his two children lived in the home, often referred to as the Baker Bungalow, until 1923.
The two-story home was built in 1909 and measures 4,800 square feet, according to the source material. It has five bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms and three fireplaces. An addition was made to the house 10 years after the initial construction that included two bedrooms and a bathroom. The house is considered one of Wright's larger wood and plaster homes.
The awards will be presented during the gala at the conservancy's annual conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Saturday, Nov. 7.
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