The Villa Terrace

The former home of Lloyd and Agnes Smith, the Villa Terrace has established itself as a landmark not only for the Historic Water Tower Neighborhood, but also for the city of Milwaukee. As one of the survivors of the many homes that were torn down along the lake bluff in the early 20th Century, this Italian Villa is instantly recognizable from its iconic garden and spectacular lake front view.

Our reading of the Villa is framed through the lens of identity—of the original inhabitants, the past and current staff, community residents, as well as the everyday passersby. In engaging with the Villa, these individuals undergo an experience that reconfirms (or contradicts) how they identify with the landscape, the neighborhood, and themselves. The view and experience of the Villa becomes part of an embodied process by which an individual develops a sense of belonging to the larger culture and community.

The Villa exists as an important landmark on both a personal and an institutional level. The unique architecture, innovative garden, and peaceful ambience produce a sensorial experience creating an identity that is unique to the individual. In this way the Villa becomes a part of us.
Barbara talks about the beginnings of the Villa Terrace, when it was a part of the Milwaukee Art Museum. Through her and her team's efforts, the ambition of bringing the decorative arts to the education of schoolchildren came alive.
Beth Chapman, one of the first members of the Friends of the Villa Terrace Board, describes the amusing acquisition of the Hermes statue in the courtyard.

Stories

Who We Are

John Annis is a 2014 Masters candidate in Architecture at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He focuses on telling stories through communicative graphics which enable sensorial experiences of design and architecture. 
Katia Chaterji is a recent graduate from the University of Chicago with a BA in Anthropology, with a focus on the archaeology of South Asia. She joins the BLC field school to explore the digital humanities and oral history.
Matt Wendorf is a 2014 Masters candidate in Architecture at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His studies emphasize the importance of vernacular architecture in our daily lives. 
Bibliography

Historic Designation Study Report. Lloyd R. Smith House, “Villa Terrace Museum of the Decorative Arts” (1982).