doghouse, no doubt that many of us know Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the most true visionary architects of the first half of the 20th century, and late 19th. Apart from his famous work and philosophy, his smallest and perhaps most unusual project came in 1956. Interestingly, the client of this project was a 12 years old kid, Robert Berger’s son, an engineer that some years ago had bought the plans for his house to the architect.
Berger displays the designs Wright created for his dog house
Jim, the child, asked Frank Lloyd Wright to design a house for his dog Eddie, a black Labrador. The child promised paying for the materials and the plans using what he earned delivering newspapers. In the beginning, the architect rejected the project because he was very busy. But after a second try of the kid, Wright agreed and supplied a full set of drawings for “Eddie’s House” the next year.
The original version of Eddie’s house, built in the 1960’s, did not follow Wright’s exact plans, but it became famous in its own right as the smallest structure that the architect ever designed at four square feet.
Construction on this tiny piece of architectural history was eventually completed by Jim’s father in 1963, it was a hexagonal house that has been built using cedar wood and mahogany from the Philippines, with minor changes to the original drawings to make the house portable. Here’s how the little boy asked Wright for the doghouse design, and received it !
Transcript
June 19, 1956
Dear Mr. Wright
I am a boy of twelve years. My name is Jim Berger. You designed a house for my father whose name is Bob Berger. I have a paper route which I make a little bit of money for the bank, and for expenses.
I would appreciate it if you would design me a dog house, which would be easy to build, but would go with our house. My dog’s name is Edward, but we call him Eddie. He is four years old or in dog life 28 years. He is a Labrador retriever. He is two and a half feet high and three feet long. The reasons I would like this dog house is for the winters mainly. My dad said if you design the dog house he will help me build it. But if you design the dog house I will pay you for the plans and materials out of the money I get from my route.
Respectfully yours,
Jim Berger
Dear Jim:
A house for Eddie is an opportunity. Someday I shall design one but just now I am too busy to concentrate on it. You write me next November to Phoenix, Arizona and I may have something then.
Truly yours,
Frank Lloyd Wright
June 28th, 1956
Dear Mr Wright
I wrote you June 19, 1956 about designing my dog Eddie a dog house to go with the house you designed for my dad. You told me to write you again in November so I ask you again, could you design me a dog house.
Respectfully yours,
Jim Berger
The Result
Ibrahim Abdelhady is an architect, academic, and media entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in architecture and digital publishing. He is the Founder and CEO of Arch2O.com, a leading platform in architectural media, renowned for showcasing innovative projects, student work, and critical discourse in design. Holding dual PhDs in Architecture, Dr. Abdelhady combines academic rigor with industry insight, shaping both future architects and architectural thought. He actively teaches, conducts research, and contributes to the global architecture community through his writing, lectures, and media ventures. His work bridges the gap between practice and academia, pushing the boundaries of how architecture is communicated in the digital age.