Windway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Windway
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Windway Estate Entrance
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 Location in Wisconsin
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| Location | 2311 County Road Y, Sheboygan, Wisconsin |
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| Built | 1937–1938 |
| Architect | William Deknatel |
| NRHP reference No. | 88001149 |
Windway is a unique historic house located north of Kohler, Wisconsin. It was built between 1937 and 1938 for Walter J. Kohler, Jr.. He later became the governor of Wisconsin and was also a leader at the Kohler Company.
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A Look at Windway's Past
Walter J. Kohler, Jr. asked an architect named William Deknatel to design his home. Deknatel had learned from the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright in the early 1930s.
Walter Kohler, Jr. passed away in 1976. His second wife, Charlotte, passed away in 1995.
In 1988, Windway was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a special building recognized for its history and design.
Today, Windway is owned by Windway Capital Corporation. It is used as a home for artists who are part of a special program. This program is run by the John Michael Kohler Arts Center. Artists live and work there for a period of time.
The House's Cool Design
Windway is a great example of the International Style of architecture. This style uses clean lines, open spaces, and often has flat roofs. The house was designed for Mr. Kohler, his first wife Marie Celeste, their three children, and three people who worked for them.
The house has two main levels. They are about the same size but have different shapes that fit together.
How the House is Laid Out
The first level is shaped like a "T." The main part runs from east to west. It includes a guest room, a study, a playroom, and the dining room. The kitchen and laundry rooms stick out to the north. The living room extends to the south. There is also a garage on the first level. It is separate from the main house with a drive-through area.
The second level is shaped like an "L." One part goes north over the driveway and above the garage. The other part goes to the east. The rooms for the servants were above the garage. One of the children's bedrooms was above the drive-through. The other two children's bedrooms were in the south part. The main bedroom suite was at the east end of the second floor. The second floor did not go over the kitchen or the living room. There was a roof deck over the living room instead.
Building Materials and Style
The house has a strong frame made of steel and concrete. This frame supports the wooden roof and floors. You can see some concrete-covered steel beams above the roof. The outside walls are mostly brick. The bricks are a "tan" color, but they can look reddish-brown too. The way the roof was built allows for flat ceilings inside and tall windows.
Outside Features
All the wood on the outside of the house was originally a type of cypress wood. The roof was flat and covered with tar and gravel. It was designed to hold a little water. This helped keep the house cool in the summer. There are also two small pools outside. One is by the living room, and the other is by the dining room.
Inside Features
Most of the ceilings and walls inside are made of smooth plaster. The fireplace and other brick parts inside use the same "tan" brick as the outside. The main rooms on the first floor had red birch wood. The bedrooms used white birch wood. The floors were mostly white maple. The hallways originally had concrete floors covered with linoleum. Some small changes have been made over time. For example, the stairs and second-floor rooms are now carpeted. Some rooms have been changed to fit the artists who live there now.
The Land Around Windway
The house sits on the edge of a bluff, which is like a small cliff. The ground drops about 40 feet to the east. To the west, a small hill hides the house from the road. The driveway goes up gently from the road. Then it drops down to go through the first level and a courtyard. It then forms a full loop back to the top of the hill.
The land around the house was kept very simple. There are open grassy areas around the house. The rest of the property was once a mix of fields and woods. Now, it is mostly wooded. Many large, old trees are close to the house. The lawn around the first floor is quite flat to the south and west. A patio has been added in the southwest corner. The ground to the east of the house drops steeply. The area closest to the house has terraces, which are like flat steps. The Pigeon River flows through the 52-acre property. It comes in from the southwest corner and flows along the south border. Then it turns north and cuts through the property. At its closest point, the river is about 200 feet from the house.
Images for kids
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Aerial view of house shortly after construction
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Walter Kohler, Jr.
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