This hodge-podge countryside mansion has a poolside 'volcano'
Firefighters told Mike Page they had a 20 percent chance to save his home last month.
A grass fire northwest of Augusta was slowly encroaching upon Page’s 20-acre property, the crown jewel of which is his family’s “neo-Victorian” mansion, finished in 2008.
Augusta and Andover fire crews put out the blaze about 100 feet from the house, which Page has dubbed “Hurricane Hill."
The 8,080-square-foot home has four bedrooms and 5 1/2 bathrooms (as well as another in a poolside "volcano" structure).
Its most unique feature is perhaps its second floor, which is entirely suspended from the ceiling via chains – an homage to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Oak Park studio. That part of Page’s house was designed by Richard Hartwell – a noted local structural engineer.
Page started building Hurricane Hill in the early 2000s, but construction drew to a halt in 2004, when hurricanes caused extensive damage in Florida.
Page, who owns a roofing and restoration services business, traveled to Florida for the hurricane cleanup. The following year, Hurricane Katrina drew him to New Orleans to do more storm restoration.
The work was good for business, allowing Page to finish his home in Augusta – now called “Hurricane Hill,” because the finances for it came from those hurricanes.
It’s what Page calls “biographic architecture.”
“There’s just a lot of meaning to the house,” Page said. “Nobody knows, but as I go through the house there are things all over that remind me of jobs or my family. I wanted to do it so that it’s subtle and not weird – like Hidden Mickeys, I guess.”
For example, the cypress on the porch is reminiscent of old plantation-style homes Page has roofed in the South. There are square-head nails hammered in at certain numbered junctures to commemorate his family’s birthdays.
The home is design-built by Page to include many different styles and “things to look at.”
Outside, Page has a swimming pool with its own custom-built “volcano” on one side.
The structure has a jumping platform, a slide, a cave with motion-sensing pirate props, bathrooms, and a waterfall. It’s equipped with a fog machine and red LED lights for the “volcano” effect.
Page said the pool is a big hit with his youngest son, who has Down syndrome. He recently had a class of Andover special education students out for a pool party – “then (the pool) has purpose,” he said.
Though he admits it’s not the most architecturally pristine, Page said Hurricane Hill starts a family legacy.
Each month, The Eagle/Kansas.com publishes a video tour of one of the Wichita area’s most unique homes.
We’re calling the series “My Home.”
Do you know of someone who has a home so cool it’s worth celebrating? Email me at mriedl@wichitaeagle.com or call me at 316-268-6660 with your nominations.
This story was originally published July 6, 2018 at 11:51 AM.