Pope-Leighey House - Alexandria, Virginia
Posted by: 
flyingmoose
N 38° 43.160 W 077° 08.160
18S E 314302 N 4287796
Located on the Woodlawn Estate on the southbound side of Richmond Highway.
Waymark Code: WM14QTH
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 08/11/2021
Views: 0
Holding the distinction of being relocated twice, the house represents a continuing commitment by the National Trust to make this magnificent example of early Usonian design accessible to the public to enjoy.
The Pope-Leighey House, named for its only previous owners, is modest in size at only 1,200 square feet. Bounded by the humble budget of the Pope family, who commissioned the house from Wright in 1939, this structure nonetheless exhibits the distinct features characteristic of his formidable vision and style. The architectural element of compression and release, the cantilevered roofs, and the windows that open to the outside create an immediate interaction with the surrounding landscape. They also create a sensation of spaciousness and allow plenty of sunlight into the home. This house seems to reach far beyond its square footage and exudes the cleverness and comfort of true mid-century design.
Although Pope-Leighey House is a relatively young house within the surrounding preservation community of Virginia, its history is highlighted by recognition of its architectural significance and its stakeholders’ efforts to protect it. After Loren and Charlotte Pope sold the property to Robert and Marjorie Leighey, the house was subject to demolition with the planned construction of a Falls Church, VA, segment of Interstate 66. Marjorie Leighey took considerable steps to raise awareness of the house in an effort to save it from demolition, even enlisting the personal efforts of Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall. Finally, the National Trust for Historic Preservation acquired the home and relocated it to Alexandria, VA in 1965. In 1995, the house was moved once again, by just 30 feet this time, to better preserve its foundation and structural stability. The Pope-Leighey House continues to operate as a historic property and is open seasonally for public tours and private events. - (visit link)
Marker Text:
"The house of moderate cost is not only America's major architectural problem but the problem most difficult for her major architects."
- Frank Lloyd Wright, 1936
Frank Lloyd Wright's solution was the Usonian house, a modestly-scaled dwelling that was affordable, designed for modern family life, and responsive to its environment. The Pope-Leighey House exemplifies Usonian and mid-20th century design.
Commissioned in 1939 by Loren Pope, the home expressed Wright's belief in American design for the people, unburdened by past architectural traditions. Wright's innovative use of wood, brick, glass and concrete created a spacious feeling — in 1,200 square feet.
In 1964, Marjorie Leighey, the second owner, donated the house and its furnishings to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In the path of Route 66 on its original Falls Church, Virginia site, the house was relocated to Woodlawn.
Pope-Leighey's today tells the story of Wright's innovative designs for a modestly-sized and affordable house, and how two families adapted dwelling to fit their lifestyles. It is an example of preservation-in-action, thanks to Marjorie Leighey and The National Trust for Historic Preservation.