Darwin Martin House Cultural Landscape Plan

The Darwin D. Martin House Complex, located in Buffalo, New York, is a significant example of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie Style architecture, designed between 1903 and 1905. This historic site, once home to Darwin D. Martin and his family, blends architecture, landscape, and interior design. After years of neglect and modifications, efforts to restore the property were led by the not-for-profit Martin House Restoration Corporation (MHRC). The complex is a National Historic Landmark and functions as a house museum.

A comprehensive Cultural Landscape Report (CLR) was commissioned to restore the landscape, a key component of Wright’s original vision. The landscape architectural team conducted extensive analysis using archival materials, photographs, and historic records. This revealed the garden, co-designed by Wright and Walter Burley Griffin, as one of the most sophisticated landscapes associated with Wright’s work. Griffin, also known for designing Canberra, Australia, brought a naturalist approach that complemented Wright’s and Martin’s ideals. Remarkably, the garden remained largely intact during Martin’s 30-year ownership, providing a reliable basis for rehabilitation.

Zakery Steele served as project manager / primary researcher and lead author while employed as a Landscape Architect at Bayer Landscape Architecture.