CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Perched on Missionary Ridge with sweeping views across the Tennessee Valley, a rare piece of Chattanooga architectural history is now on the market: the Shavin House.
We spoke with the current owner, Karen Shavin, who says she spent her childhood at the residence.
The house was designed by famed U.S. architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
“Every view is like a painting, a piece of artwork on the wall, and there really are no art hangings inside, because we didn’t need it. The art was in the environment,” Shavin says.
The home is positioned to capture views of the Tennessee River, Lookout Mountain and the surrounding landscape.
While Wright designed the residence, Shavin says her father served as the general contractor behind its construction.
Built primarily of native Tennessee Crab Orchard stone and Louisiana cypress, the house features expansive walls of glass intended to strengthen the connection between indoor and outdoor space.
Image via Sotheby’s International Realty
Its architectural details include mitered corner windows, clerestory lighting, custom wood screens, built-in furnishings and a cantilevered carport roof.
“My parents made many changes over the years, and only I hold the secret to what’s original and what’s not, I’ve always dreamed of living there the rest of my days, and of passing it on to other family members,” Shavin says.
A stone fireplace anchors the living room, and the layout incorporates Wright’s principles of compression and release.
Image via Sotheby’s International Realty
The property also includes native gardens and a pond designed specifically for the residence.
Shavin moved into the home with her family when she was young and lived there for decades. She says she hopes whoever buys it will treat it as a long-term home.
“I would like to see an owner who can make this a living place that can go forward into the 21st century and beyond, and that can bring beauty into life, challenging people to live in a way where they are attuned to nature, they are oriented towards beauty and connection with the world,” Shavin told us.
Image via Sotheby’s International Realty
Shavin says she would not sell the home if she had the choice, adding that the decision is out of her control.
The home is currently listed for $1.6 million. Read more about the listing here.