Oscar B Balch House

The Oscar B. Balch House, located in Oak Park, Illinois, was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1911. It is one of his first flat-roofed Prairie-style homes and features horizontal linearity with broad, overhanging eaves. The house was built after Wright's return from Europe with Mamah Borthwick, which led to social exile and the loss of friends, clients, and family. Oscar Balch, an interior decorator who stood by Wright, commissioned the home. Historian Thomas O'Gorman suggests the design may reflect Wright's subconscious mind, possibly symbolizing feelings of being "under siege" due to personal turmoil.

The house is part of the Frank Lloyd Wright-Prairie School of Architecture Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. It was renovated between 1999 and 2016 by owner Tim Pearson, and later purchased by Samantha Lotti in 2016 for $1.126 million. Lotti invested $800,000 in eco-friendly renovations, including a geothermal heating system and insulation improvements. The home was listed for sale at $1.5 million in September 2024.

Architecturally, the Balch House showcases Wright's mature Prairie style with stucco exterior walls, rows of second-floor windows, and a Roman brick fireplace anchoring the living room. Its design reflects elements from earlier works like the Edwin H. Cheney House, while introducing new dramatic features such as the flat roof. The home stands across from Ernest Hemingway's boyhood residence, adding to its historical significance.