This Nearly Forgotten Connecticut Retreat by a Taliesin Fellow Hits the Market for $595K

Allan J. Gelbin designed the 1965 Trinkaus House using principles he learned as an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright.

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It was the end of his second year at the Carnegie Institute of Technology when A.J. Gelbin decided to drop out of university. Leaving a formal education behind, Gelbin hitched a ride to Wisconsin and joined Frank Lloyd Wright's fellowship program at Taliesin East, where he studied under the master architect for four years. Theory eventually turned to practice when he was asked to supervise the construction of several Wright-designed homes—experiences that later inspired Gelbin's own career designing homes throughout Connecticut and New England.

In 1965, several years after establishing his own practice, the architect Allan J. Gelbin completed a Wright-inspired residence for Theodore Trinkaus and his wife in Weston, Connecticut. Gelbin studied under Wright as a Taliesin Fellow from 1949 to 1953. — In 1965, several years after establishing his own practice, the architect Allan J. Gelbin completed a Wright-inspired residence for Theodore Trinkaus and his wife in Weston, Connecticut. Gelbin studied under Wright as a Taliesin Fellow from 1949 to 1953.

By 1957, Gelbin had established his own practice in Connecticut, where he completed dozens of projects throughout his career. One such property, the Trinkaus House, draws on many instantly recognizable Wrightian principles. The entire structure is built along a sloping hillside, with floor-to-ceiling windows and doors looking out onto a wrap around terrace. Other original features include a stone fireplace and flooring, as well as raised ceilings enclosed in clerestory windows.

The five-bedroom "Trinkaus House" is built into a sloping hillside , an attempt to follow Wright's philosophy of finding harmony between the site and structure. The sounds of a nearby waterfall and babbling brook add to the serene location.

The current owners saved the property from demolition and spent years restoring the home from a largely forgotten state, retaining as much of the original design as they could. Modern updates include an all-new kitchen and bathrooms, as well as new roof and other structural repairs. Other renovations are still left to be completed by the new owners. Keep scrolling to see more of this cozy Connecticut retreat, currently listed for $595,000.