Frank Gehry's Winton Building is On the Market Once Again

The Winton Building is looking for a new owner, after it made its way back on the market. The home is designed by one of the most fascinating and innovative architects of our time - Frank Gehry, while its current owner, and "home", is the University of St.Thomas in Minnesota. Winton's value is calculated at approximately $4.5 million. The only catch in this case it: if you end up buying it, you will need to move it from its current location.

Winton's design is inspired by the work of the Italian painter Giorgio Mirandi and the construction itself holds a place in the Times ranking of "Great Work of 1987". It is comprised of five geometrically-shaped rooms, huddled around a pyramid-shaped living room; a total area of 2300 sq.m.

It was commissioned by Mike and Penny Winton in 1982 and was initially the concept for their land near Minnetonka lake. The Winton family sells the house in 2002 to the entrepreneur Kurt Woodhouse. However, instead of keeping the house to himself, he donated it to the University of St. Thomas in 2007 with the conditional agreement that it be moved and made accessible to more people.

The company tasked with moving the Winton house takes apart the eight pieces to transport them 110 miles. On location, they prepare the terrain upon which it will rest in order to retain a similar environmental milieu as was intended for the original design. At the official presentation of the newly-transported building in 2011, Frank Gehry himself is in attendance and comments, cheekily, that the company managed to put the house back together with 93.6% accuracy.

Last year, a health insurance company purchased the land upon which the building has been resting since 2011. Despite the controversial fact that the house was a private donation, it must be moved once again by 2016.

The auction for the Winton house will happen through Wright auctioneers on May 19th this year.