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Coordinates: 38°43′9.95″N 77°8′9.53″W / 38.7194306°N 77.1359806°W / 38.7194306; -77.1359806
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Loren Pope had become interested in Wright after seeing him on the cover of a 1938 ''[[Time Magazine]]'' issue, which included an article depicting his work on [[Fallingwater]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Rosenwald|first=Michael S.|title=They begged Frank Lloyd Wright to build them a house they couldn’t afford|language=en-US|work=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/07/06/they-begged-frank-lloyd-wright-build-house-they-couldnt-afford-then-he-said-yes/|access-date=2021-04-09|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>. In the article, Wright expressed a desire to design homes for middle-class Americans, in keeping with his interest in using architecture as a tool for progressive social reform<ref name=":0" />. Pope, as a middle-class American in the market for a new house, recognized this as a potential opportunity to get a Wright-designed home himself. At an architects' conference in 1938, Pope approached Wright after his presentation to inquire about the likelihood that Wright would design a house for someone like him<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Reiss|first=Steven|date=2006|title=The Pope-Leighey House: An Interview with Loren Pope|url=https://www.nbm.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Blueprints_Summer06.pdf|journal=Blueprints|volume=XXIV|pages=3-7}}</ref>. Wright responded that he only built houses for "people who deserved them" like middle class families, noting that he would never design for those in the real estate business<ref name=":1" />. Encouraged, Pope read Wright's autobiography, which made him so enamored with Wright that he became determined to contact the architect for a commission<ref name=":1" />.
Loren Pope had become interested in Wright after seeing him on the cover of a 1938 ''[[Time Magazine]]'' issue, which included an article depicting his work on [[Fallingwater]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Rosenwald|first=Michael S.|title=They begged Frank Lloyd Wright to build them a house they couldn’t afford|language=en-US|work=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/07/06/they-begged-frank-lloyd-wright-build-house-they-couldnt-afford-then-he-said-yes/|access-date=2021-04-09|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>. In the article, Wright expressed a desire to design homes for middle-class Americans, in keeping with his interest in using architecture as a tool for progressive social reform<ref name=":0" />. Pope, as a middle-class American in the market for a new house, recognized this as a potential opportunity to get a Wright-designed home himself. At an architects' conference in 1938, Pope approached Wright after his presentation to inquire about the likelihood that Wright would design a house for someone like him<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Reiss|first=Steven|date=2006|title=The Pope-Leighey House: An Interview with Loren Pope|url=https://www.nbm.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Blueprints_Summer06.pdf|journal=Blueprints|volume=XXIV|pages=3-7}}</ref>. Wright responded that he only built houses for "people who deserved them" like middle class families, noting that he would never design for those in the real estate business<ref name=":1" />. Encouraged, Pope read Wright's autobiography, which made him so enamored with Wright that he became determined to contact the architect for a commission<ref name=":1" />.


Pope subsequently wrote the architect, beginning his letter "Dear Mr. Wright, There are certain things a man wants during life, and of life. Material things and things of the spirit. The writer has one fervent wish that includes both. It is a house created by you."<ref name="interview2006">{{cite web|title=The Pope–Leighey House An Interview with Loren Pope|url=http://www.nbm.org/about-us/publications/blueprints/the-pope-leighey-house.html|publisher=National Building Museum, Steven M. Reiss, AIA, 2006}}</ref> After Wright agreed, Pope subsequently visited another Usonian home of Wright's design and met Wright at [[Taliesin (studio)|Taliesin]]. The architect originally designed a house of {{convert|1800|sqft|m2}}. Mr. Pope at the time made $50 per week, and borrowing the money for the house proved difficult, with one lender counseling Pope the home would be a "white elephant."<ref name="interview2006"/> Pope's employer, the ''Evening Star'', eventually offered a loan of $5,700 and construction commenced after Wright sized the plan down from 1800 sf to 1200 sf.<ref name="interview2006"/>
Pope wrote to Wright, telling him that "There are certain things a man wants during life, and, of life. Material things and things of the spirit. The writer has one fervent wish that includes both. It is a house created by you"<ref name=":1" />. Wright agreed to design a home for the Popes. Pope traveled to Wisconsin to visit Wright at his [[Taliesin (studio)|Taliesin]] estate to discuss the plans for the new house<ref name=":1" />.


In May 1941, less than 2 months after the Pope’s moved in, their 3 year old son Ned died when he wandered out of the house and drowned in a neighbor’s pond.<ref>Paul Hendrickson, "Plagued By Fire: the Dreams and Furies of Frank Lloyd Wright," (New York: Alfred A. Knoff, 2019), p. 28.</ref> Pope and his family lived in the house for 6 years, moving in 1946 to a 365-acre farm in Loudoun County,<ref name="interview2006"/> planning to subsequently build a larger Wright-designed home. Limitations on his income precluded Pope from affording the new home until 1959, when Wright was busy with the [[Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum|Guggenheim Museum]] in New York.
In May 1941, less than 2 months after the Pope’s moved in, their 3 year old son Ned died when he wandered out of the house and drowned in a neighbor’s pond.<ref>Paul Hendrickson, "Plagued By Fire: the Dreams and Furies of Frank Lloyd Wright," (New York: Alfred A. Knoff, 2019), p. 28.</ref> Pope and his family lived in the house for 6 years, moving in 1946 to a 365-acre farm in Loudoun County,<ref name="interview2006">{{cite web|title=The Pope–Leighey House An Interview with Loren Pope|url=http://www.nbm.org/about-us/publications/blueprints/the-pope-leighey-house.html|publisher=National Building Museum, Steven M. Reiss, AIA, 2006}}</ref> planning to subsequently build a larger Wright-designed home. Limitations on his income precluded Pope from affording the new home until 1959, when Wright was busy with the [[Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum|Guggenheim Museum]] in New York.


=== Design ===
=== Design ===

Revision as of 22:26, 9 April 2021

Pope–Leighey House
Pope–Leighey House is located in Virginia
Pope–Leighey House
LocationEast of Accotink off US 1, near Alexandria, Virginia
Coordinates38°43′9.95″N 77°8′9.53″W / 38.7194306°N 77.1359806°W / 38.7194306; -77.1359806
Built1941
ArchitectFrank Lloyd Wright
Architectural styleUsonian
NRHP reference No.70000791[1]
VLR No.029-0058
Significant dates
Added to NRHPDecember 18, 1970
Designated VLROctober 6, 1970[2]

The Pope–Leighey House, formerly known as the Loren Pope Residence, is a suburban home in Virginia designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The house, which belongs to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has been relocated twice and sits on the grounds of Woodlawn Plantation, Alexandria, Virginia. Along with the Andrew B. Cooke House and the Luis Marden House, it is one of the three homes in Virginia designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Conception

Commissioned in 1939 by journalist Loren Pope and his wife Charlotte Pope, the Pope–Leighey House was one of the first Usonian houses designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It was completed in 1941, located at 1005 Locust Street, Falls Church, Virginia.

Loren Pope had become interested in Wright after seeing him on the cover of a 1938 Time Magazine issue, which included an article depicting his work on Fallingwater[3]. In the article, Wright expressed a desire to design homes for middle-class Americans, in keeping with his interest in using architecture as a tool for progressive social reform[3]. Pope, as a middle-class American in the market for a new house, recognized this as a potential opportunity to get a Wright-designed home himself. At an architects' conference in 1938, Pope approached Wright after his presentation to inquire about the likelihood that Wright would design a house for someone like him[4]. Wright responded that he only built houses for "people who deserved them" like middle class families, noting that he would never design for those in the real estate business[4]. Encouraged, Pope read Wright's autobiography, which made him so enamored with Wright that he became determined to contact the architect for a commission[4].

Pope wrote to Wright, telling him that "There are certain things a man wants during life, and, of life. Material things and things of the spirit. The writer has one fervent wish that includes both. It is a house created by you"[4]. Wright agreed to design a home for the Popes. Pope traveled to Wisconsin to visit Wright at his Taliesin estate to discuss the plans for the new house[4].

In May 1941, less than 2 months after the Pope’s moved in, their 3 year old son Ned died when he wandered out of the house and drowned in a neighbor’s pond.[5] Pope and his family lived in the house for 6 years, moving in 1946 to a 365-acre farm in Loudoun County,[6] planning to subsequently build a larger Wright-designed home. Limitations on his income precluded Pope from affording the new home until 1959, when Wright was busy with the Guggenheim Museum in New York.

Design

The design follows Wright's Usonian model of well-designed space for middle-income residents with a design that brings nature inside, using modest materials and a flat roof.

The home's L-shaped layout features two bedrooms and a bathroom in one wing and living and dining areas in the other. At the juncture of the two wings are the home's entrance, a study, and the kitchen. The home was designed on a 2 by 4 feet (0.61 by 1.22 m) rectangular grid scored into a concrete floor painted in Wright's signature color, Cherokee Red. To accommodate the original site's slope, the house features two levels.

Interior view looking south, showing the junction of the living room, dining area, and kitchen.
View of dining room through full-length windows

The living room features a ceiling at eleven-and-a half feet (3.5 m), the bedroom wing opens outward with tall glass doors and windows, and the house features a patterned ribbon of clerestory windows at the top of the walls. Materials included Tidewater red cypress (finished in clear wax), brick, and glass. The entire house features radiant heating with hot water pipes embedded in the concrete slab. The furniture was designed by Wright.

Construction

Wright assigned apprentice Gordon Chadwick to oversee construction of the home,[6] though Wright himself visited the house several times. Wright felt the house's construction was costing the owner too much and did not request his final payment. Wright, who wanted to name the home "Touchstone,"[6] felt the design was one of the best representations of his Usonian ideals.[6] Howard Rickert from Vienna, Virginia, was the project's primary carpenter.[6]

First Relocation

The Popes sold the home to Robert and Marjorie Leighey in 1946. In 1961, the state of Virginia informed the Leigheys the house would be condemned to make way for Interstate 66. Robert died in 1963, and Marjorie Leighey donated the home to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1964, along with the entire $31,500 condemnation award to help pay for the relocation.[7] Before donating the home, Ms. Leighey had turned down the initial condemnation award of $25,605 from the Virginia Highway Department.[8]

The home was dismantled, moved, and reconstructed on the property of Woodlawn Plantation, 9000 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, Virginia, where it opened to the public as the Pope–Leighey House in 1965.[9] Leighey continued to reside in the home from 1969 until her death in 1983.

Pope–Leighey House at current location.

Second Relocation

The house had initially been poorly located at Woodlawn Plantation — over an area with unstable marine clay. In 1995, the house was again relocated[10] thirty feet[11] at a cost of $500,000.[11]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pope-Leighey House.

References

  1. ^ "National Register of Historical Places - VIRGINIA - Fairfax County". National Park Service.
  2. ^ "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  3. ^ a b Rosenwald, Michael S. "They begged Frank Lloyd Wright to build them a house they couldn't afford". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  4. ^ a b c d e Reiss, Steven (2006). "The Pope-Leighey House: An Interview with Loren Pope" (PDF). Blueprints. XXIV: 3–7.
  5. ^ Paul Hendrickson, "Plagued By Fire: the Dreams and Furies of Frank Lloyd Wright," (New York: Alfred A. Knoff, 2019), p. 28.
  6. ^ a b c d e "The Pope–Leighey House An Interview with Loren Pope". National Building Museum, Steven M. Reiss, AIA, 2006.
  7. ^ "The Pope–Leighey House". Delmars.com.
  8. ^ Franklin, Ben A. (20 March 1964). "House by Wright Faces Demolition". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  9. ^ "Pope–Leighey House, National Trust for Historic Preservation". Archived from the original on 2019-01-27. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
  10. ^ "The Pope–Leighey House".
  11. ^ a b "Small Frank Lloyd Wright House Moved for $500,000". NPR, Morning Edition, September 14, 1995. Fifty-five years ago Frank Lloyd Wright built the Pope–Leighey House for $7,000. It is now being moved 30 feet away... at a cost of more than half a million dollars.

Further reading

  • Steven M. Reiss. Lloyd Wright's Pope–Leighey House (University of Virginia Press; 2014) 216 pages
  • The Pope–Leigh[e]y House. National Trust for Historic Preservation. Washington, DC. 1969. LC 74-105251.
  • Storrer, William Allin. The Frank Lloyd Wright Companion. University Of Chicago Press, 2006, ISBN 0-226-77621-2 (S.268)
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