Wright Chat

The article is about Mr. Pope, of the Pope-Leighey Usonian house, designed by Mr. Wright. The article is his first hand account about building and living in the house with his young family for 6 years. The article brought great controversy when it was fist published back in 1948. Mr. Pope's writing was so "enthusiastic" about the house that he used a title that caught people's attention - "The Love Affair of a Man and his House." The publisher waited 1 year before they finally decided to take the risk and publish the article.

Wow!

Does anyone know why the 2nd Pope house was not built?



Pope sold his first FLW house in order to build a 2nd larger one. I never heard of the 2nd one being built or for that matter designed.



I guess this compares to Jacobs I and Jacobs II. But Jacobs II was designed AND built.

I believe Mr. Pope subseqently moved agian (to NYC) before he could proceed with the second house. You could ask him - he gave a lecture at the house a few months ago. I understand that he can be contacted through the National Trust (owners of the house).

Don't forget the Penfield House. Louis Penfield requested a second FLW design when the highway encroached too near the 30 acre ancestral plot. The Penfield family received the plans for Penfield II: perhaps, the last house plans initialed by Wright. The first, a concrete block Usonian, stands tall on a rise with a grand view of the river, although the trees have transformed the view in the last 50 years. The second house, a short distance away, would have nestled into the woods quite differently. The form relates closely to the Hagan House. To prepare for the new House, Louis laboriously carried indigenous river rock up to the site and taught himself stone masonry. He co-authored a book about building stone walls. Penfield II was never realized but the remains of that stone exercise and Louis' art studio (his own design) are on the site and the plans exist with the family. The first Penfield House, of course, has been lovingly rejuvenated as a beautiful rental retreat. Would that all FLW House children have had the same grace, skills and dedication to save their childhood homes for the rest of us.

Go to the Penfield House website. (I'm a computer novice and don't know how to linc.)