DALLAS, TX.- A home once described by Frank Lloyd Wright as "a little gem," in Kansas City, Missouri, will soon be sold Aug. 12 by Heritage Auctions. The 2,965 square-foot, ft. three-bedroom/three-bath contemporary estate will sell at a no-reserve auction, regardless of price. The renowned home is located on nearly one and a half acres in the historic Roanoke neighborhood near downtown.

Designed by Wright in 1939 for Clarence Sondern as a 900-square-foot home, three squares formed what was to become the classic Usonian L-shaped style. Arnold Adler hired the architect in 1948 to expand the home to its current 2,965 square feet, adding a great room, a third bedroom and two additional bathrooms. Renowned in Kansas City, the Sondern-Adler House has delighted its stewards and visitors for generations.

"I chose Heritage to represent the house because of its audience of collectors and art aficionados," said the home's current owner, Jim Blair. "This house is a piece of art. Heritage appreciates that and is treating it that way. The fact that someone can invest in it at auction now is a great opportunity. It's like being able to buy a Monet."

This early Usonian home connects visitors to nature with a single cantilevered roof and walls of glass. Its tidewater red cypress and brick exterior virtually melts into the surrounding wooded landscape. The seamless transitions within the home between indoor and outdoor living spaces create the illusion of a treehouse. The sunken living room is anchored by a massive fireplace and is at once spacious and cozy.

"The auction presents a tremendous opportunity for fans of Frank Lloyd Wright to own a masterpiece of design," said Nate Schar, Director of Luxury Real Estate for Heritage Auctions. "The home hasn't changed hands often in its 80-year history, and its stewards have been careful to preserve as much as possible of Wright's creation. It is a very livable home and truly a work of art."

Set effortlessly on nearly one-and-a-half acres, the home is not visible from the road and offers incredible privacy. Located in the historic Roanoke neighborhood, the home is located in the heart of Kansas City, only minutes away from The Plaza, Westport(NO COMMA) and 39th St. shopping districts, as well as the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art and the Crossroads Art District. Sometimes offered as a short-term rental, the Sondern-Adler house is a testament to Wright's vision.

"The Sondern-Adler house is an incredible architectural property, featuring both the restraint of Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian designs, while also providing more generous and elaborate living space, both inside and out, as found in Wright's larger commissions," said Brent Lewis, Director of Design for Heritage Auctions. "It holds many of the innovations that Wright pioneered during the 1940s, such as the use of natural materials, glass light screens and clerestory windows, thoughtful built-in furniture and an overall inspired sensitivity to its natural surroundings."

Bidding for the house, which was last listed at $1,650,000, will take place Aug. 12 at Heritage's Luxury Real Estate Auction. The property will have no minimum starting bid and will be sold without reserve.