America's most famous architect was obsessed with small houses. Even though this exciting aspect of his work has been long overlooked, the truth is that Frank Lloyd Wright spent most of his career addressing the problems of houses intended for individuals or small families of modest means. In the only book on the master architect to focus on “the house of moderate cost,” Wright expert Diane Maddex takes the reader inside a selection of his small houses from across the country—many of them newly photographed by Alan Weintraub—turning the spotlight on Wright's ingenious solutions to make these homes look and feel large.Today, with the country seduced by the charms of the simple, easily maintained house or cozy cottage, Wright's inventions are more relevant than ever. From the Stockman House (1908) of Mason City, Iowa, a recently restored Prairie house based on Wright's “Fireproof House for $5,000,” to the Peterson Cottage (1958) of Lake Delton, Wisconsin, a lakeside retreat of just 880 square feet, these homes are filled with practical ideas and inspiration on how to build small and live smarter. As with many modern architectural ideas that we now take for granted, Wright was there first.

Author Bio: Diane Maddex, formerly the director of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Preservation Press, is the president of Arche-type Press and the author of many award-winning books on the American home. Alan Weintraub is a San Francisco–based photo-grapher whose work appears in architecture and design publications throughout the world.