New series captures Frank Lloyd Wright RiverRock house project in Willoughby Hills - The News-Herald

Published by: The News-Herald

By Marah Morrison

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The Frank Lloyd Wright RiverRock house project in Willoughby Hills will now be a television series that will premier in September on Magnolia Network.

The four-part series premieres on Sept. 3 at 8 p.m. on Magnolia and will also be available on demand on HBO Max the following day.

According to Sarah Dykstra, general contractor and owner of RiverRock alongside her mother, Debbie Dykstra, the network asked the mother-daughter team to keep the series a secret during construction.

“It’s Hollywood comes to Willoughby Hills,” Sarah said. “You’ll soon be able to watch us move through the process, from the discovery of Wright’s last Usonian house plans, to breaking ground, finding the right team to respectfully build the house following Wright’s plans, through construction and completion of this home in the Chagrin River Valley.”

The home, 2217 River Road, is still available for overnight stays. Reservations can be made at riverrockhouse.com.

Magnolia Network announced the premiere date for the series, “The Last Wright: Building the Final Home Design of America’s Greatest Architect,” most recently in a press release.

The Dykstras said they are thrilled Magnolia Network collaborated with them to tell the story of Wright’s last residential home plan before his death in 1959, to share the architectural genius of Wright with enthusiasts, as well as a new generation of fans.

Throughout the filming of the series, while facing many challenges associated with building from the ground up following Wright’s plans, the Dykstras, as general contractors and owners of the home, had a guiding question to the construction team: what would Frank do?

“I think my brother and everybody is very proud of us in what we did,” Sarah said. “We went through a process — about six months — before we started building.”

The series, executive produced by Chip and Joanna Gaines, offers an unprecedented look at the intersection of timeless design and modern construction, documenting the Dykstras’ journey as they navigate the realities of present-day building codes, materials and craftsmanship all while honoring the principles of Wright’s architecture.

“Watching ‘The Last Wright’ unfold has felt like history being brought to life and it’s been an honor to help tell the story of the RiverRock house,” said Joanna Gaines, who also is the co-creator of Magnolia Network. “The Dykstras did an incredible job ensuring every detail stayed as true to Wright’s plans as possible.”

Wright is widely regarded as one of the most influential architects of the 20th century, celebrated for his innovative philosophy of organic architecture and designing structures in harmony with humanity, and the environment. The late architect has more than 1,000 architectural works to his name including notable works such as Fallingwater and the Guggenheim Museum.

Wright’s work continues to inspire architects and designers around the world.

The series captures a rare opportunity to see one of Wright’s final residential designs come to life more than six decades later.

“With ‘The Last Wright,’ we’re offering something truly special — an intimate look at what it means to bring a historic design into the present day,” said Magnolia Network President Allison Page. “This series perfectly embodies what Magnolia is all about, especially our passion for telling stories that celebrate meaningful work, creative passion and the beauty of thoughtful design.”

The series filmed in Willoughby Hills on the Dykstra’s property and also features The Louis Penfield House, a Wright Usonian home built in 1953. The series follows the Dykstra’s as they bring to life a home blending Wright’s historic artistry with contemporary sensibility.

Each episode of the series highlights the balance between preserving architectural integrity and adapting to modern needs.

New episodes will premiere weekly on Magnolia after the premiere date. The four, hour-long episodes will showcase the trials, triumphs and timeless beauty of the build from foundation to finish.

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