Samara is a 'Usonian' home and embodies Frank Lloyd Wright's philosophies regarding an independent, democratic American society. Wright's more elaborate designs from the early part of the twentieth century are categorized as 'prairie style' homes. Later in his career he became increasingly concerned with designing smaller, more affordable housing. The first home that Wright designated as 'Usonian' was built in Madison, Wisconsin, for Herbert and Katherine Jacobs, in 1936.

Dr. John E. Christian became a member of the faculty at Purdue University in 1945. He and his wife Catherine approached the imposing, 83 year-old architect early in 1950. Wright agreed to design their home, but a variety of circumstances, including Wright's heavy work load, delayed the start of design until 1953. The Christians received a preliminary floor plan in February of 1954. The final working drawings were completed in January of 1955.

The home was sited on a modestly wooded site of slightly more than one acre. The Christian family occupied the home in September, 1956. A 14 foot change of elevation across the site offered some drama to the home's siting. One of West Lafayette's busiest streets forms one of the site's borders, a condition that influenced the siting and planting design for the home.

The home features many of the architectural innovations and trademarks for which Wright is best known. Wright designed nearly all of the home's furnishings as well. Coming late in his career, it is safe to say that 'Samara' represents a high level of refinement of the great architect's design tenets, and is a gem of the Usonian period. The John E. and Catherine E. Christian House is unique in that it has had only one residential owner, Dr. John E. Christian. His estate stipulates that this outstanding example of Wright's Usonian period will pass to the John E. Christian Family Memorial Trust and will be available for research for future generations of architectural and Frank Lloyd Wright scholars.