Issue 467 June 4th 2025

The Headlines

Architects Of Democracy: Frank Lloyd Wright And Walt Whitman

Buffalo, NY is home to two architectural masterpieces: Louis Sullivan’s Guaranty Building and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin Martin House. Wright, who worked under Sullivan from 1888 to 1893, was influenced not only by his mentor’s architectural style but also by Sullivan’s passion for the poet Walt Whitman. Sullivan kept Whitman’s Leaves of Grass in the drafting room and shared its verses with Wright, inspiring him deeply.

Wright embraced Whitman’s themes of democracy, nature, and individualism throughout his life, often quoting the poet and even inscribing a Whitman passage in gold at Taliesin West. As Wright’s 158th birthday approaches, Buffalo will celebrate the connection between the architect and his favorite poet with an event titled “Architects of Democracy: Frank Lloyd Wright and Walt Whitman” on June 8, 2025, at the Darwin Martin House Visitor’s Pavilion.

The program will feature a lecture by Whitman expert Karen Karbiener, a performance by the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus previewing a new Whitman-inspired symphony, poetry recitations, and a film about Whitman’s influence on the Martin House. The free, 90-minute event requires pre-registration due to limited seating. Visitors are also encouraged to explore the Darwin Martin House earlier in the day during Wright’s Birthday Open House, which includes a self-guided tour available for a fee.

Pope-Leighey House Celebrates 60th Anniversary

Get ready to party 1960s style. The Pope-Leighey House, the DMV’s only home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is celebrating six decades of preservation with a special open house tour and celebration.

The one-night only event, 60 Years of Preserving: Celebrating Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey House, will be hosted on Saturday, June 7, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The evening will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the historic home’s move from Falls Church to its current home at Woodlawn in Alexandria, VA.

Throughout the night, guests will be able to take an open house tour, enjoy live entertainment in the backyard, and sample snacks as the sun sets. Make sure to make your way up to the Woodlawn property to check out the new exhibit, Saving Pope-Leighey House: How Marjorie Leighey Rescued her Frank Lloyd Wright Home.

Tickets are $60 for adults, $20 for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, and free for kids 5 and under. All tickets also come with a complimentary drink ticket. 9000 Richmond Hwy., Alexandria

Watch Inside Frank Lloyd Wright’s Design School Built From The Desert

Architectural Digest explores Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona, Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home and architectural laboratory. Established in the 1930s as a seasonal retreat from Wisconsin, it became a living, working community where Wright and his apprentices practiced architecture and studied other arts. Built almost entirely by the apprentices using local desert materials, the complex embodies Wright’s philosophy of organic architecture—blending structure with landscape.

Wright emphasized learning by doing, creating a hands-on, communal environment rather than a traditional school. Apprentices helped construct the property, lived in tents initially, and shared responsibilities such as cooking and caretaking. Spaces like the Garden Room and Drafting Studio showcase Wright’s signature techniques: low-set windows that frame the landscape, built-in furniture, and open-air canvas roofs that connected interior with exterior. He integrated Asian design principles, influenced by early exposure to Japanese art and architecture.

Taliesin West evolved continuously. Structures like the Apprentice Court and Sun Cottage reflect Wright’s belief in architecture as adaptable and in harmony with nature. The Cabaret Theater, largely subterranean, was used for film screenings, performances, and lectures, highlighting Wright’s attention to acoustics and social spaces.

Wright’s office and studio were also hubs of creativity. Apprentices drafted by hand, contributing to major projects, while Wright developed a visual identity influenced by Japanese prints. His designs balanced practical function with aesthetic vision, and the site remains a living testament to his ideas. Rather than glorify him, the goal today is to examine Wright’s work critically and apply his principles of organic architecture to modern challenges, honoring his legacy while questioning and learning from it.

Wright’s Elizabeth And Rollin Furbeck House Hits The Market

After 27 years, Deb and Tom Abrahamson are selling their Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home in Oak Park, IL. It's the Elizabeth and Rollin Furbeck House at 515 Fair Oaks Ave., built in 1897. Originally a wedding gift from stockbroker Warren Furbeck to his son Rollin, the house has a rich architectural history and is a designated Oak Park landmark.

The Abrahamsons have been dedicated stewards of the home, carefully updating it to suit modern living while preserving Wright’s design. They added forced air, reimagined interior spaces, and created a family-friendly environment with over 5,000 square feet, including five bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. Unique features like concrete inglenooks, leaded glass windows, and a remodeled library powder room reflect the home's historic charm.

The couple collaborated with experts to design new light fixtures in Wright's style and maintained original exterior elements like the stable. The backyard features a heated pool and Brazilian ipe deck.

Now moving on to a Victorian renovation in Forest Park, the Abrahamsons are seeking a buyer who will appreciate and preserve the home. Priced at $1,975,000 and listed with Louise Nix of Berkshire Hathaway, the property is also featured on the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy’s website and its own dedicated site, www.flwfurbeckhouse.com.

Barnsdall Park’s Popular Wine Series Returns June 6

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House, LA’s beloved landmark and the sole UNESCO World Heritage site in the city, has a lot to celebrate this summer. Thanks to an outpouring of support, the famous site was spared devastating budget cuts, which had put much of the site’s cultural programming at risk.

Now, supporters of Barnsdall Art Park are invited to enjoy this incredible civic space and once again show their support with the return of the Barnsdall Art Park Foundation’s iconic fundraiser, Barnsdall Fridays Wine Tasting, beginning on June 6, 2025, which provides essential funding for programs.

When we checked for this story, there were only a handful of tickets available for June 6. Don’t despair. There are still plenty of tickets available for the rest of the summer. Building on the tremendous success of last year’s event, organizers have extended the 16th season through September 26, 2025. All proceeds support programming within the Park.

The event takes place on Olive Hill and the West Lawn of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House every Friday from June 6 to September 26 (excluding July 4) from 5:30 PM to 9 PM. Indulge in exquisite wines from a long-standing artisanal partner at Silverlake Wine; relish delectable selections from a variety of local food trucks, and enjoy carefully curated DJ performances. Attendees are advised to bring blankets for optimal comfort!

Kaiser Permanente is back as the lead supporter of the 2025 wine tasting season, and tickets cost $45 with other tier options that include a tour of Hollyhock House starting at $80. Located at 4800 Hollywood Blvd (LA, CA 90027), parking is limited; rideshare and public transportation are highly encouraged. Designated Driver tickets are available, too.

The Prairie School Legacy in Iowa Symposium

Don't miss the two-day event, The Prairie School Legacy in Iowa Symposium in Dubuque, IA on June 27-28th that will highlight the work of architects Alfred Caldwell and Frank Lloyd Wright and their impact on midwestern architecture.

Participants will learn about how Louis Sullivan's ideas about organic architecture inspired a group of architects in what became known as the Prairie School. The importance of Iowa's natural landscapes and materials in the development of the Prairie School will also be discussed and a better understanding of the lives and work of Frank Lloyd Wright and Alfred Caldwell and the relationship between the two will be gained. Finally, participants will learn about Historic Structures Reports, and the importance of these documents in preserving and restoring important Prairie School works such as the Caldwell-designed pavilions in Eagle Point Park.

Learn more and sign up for the Symposium by following the link!

Wayfarers Chapel Proposes New Site For Reassembled Church

In Rancho Palos Verde, CA, the disassembled Wayfarers Chapel designed by Lloyd Wright, the son of Frank Lloyd Wright, has been stored away since last July, following damage from landslides. A potential site for the ecclesiastical structure has been found. The proposed site would expand the footprint of the serene property and protect its structures from further damage caused by land movement.

In the 1970s, a landslide at the site destroyed the chapel’s visitor center, and the geologic movement was inactive for a while. However, in the past few years activity began accelerating at an unprecedented rate. In February 2024, the Wayfarers Chapel announced that it would close its doors due to land movement in the area. The shuttering left a displaced congregation and devastated brides in its wake, but there was still hope of a return. Then, in May 2024, it was announced that the only way to maintain the structure was to disassemble it.

Land movement had caused glass panels to shatter, the metal framing to warp, and cracks to form in the concrete. Though leadership initially wanted to rebuild on site, the worsening conditions proved this was no longer a viable option. In July 2024, with the help of Architectural Resources Group, the church was meticulously disassembled with each part numbered and labeled. Many of the irreplaceable materials used to construct the original chapel were salvaged. The pieces have since been kept in storage, waiting to be rebuilt.

The chapel’s new site must carry similar characteristics to the old one to uphold its National Historic Landmark designation. The prospective site, Battery Barnes, shares the original site’s coastal views of the Pacific, while situating the reassembled chapel outside the Portuguese Bend. Built in 1943 as part of the U.S. Army’s coastal fortification plan, the Battery Barnes’s connection to World War II could also be highlighted throughout the use of the land.

Wayfarers Chapel also plans to take advantage of the expanded footprint of the proposed site. During an episode of “RPV City Talk,” the chapel’s communications director Stephanie Cartozian shared that the organization hopes to rebuild the chapel along with the lost visitor center, as well as constructing a museum, archival center, and restaurant. The campus would also see the addition of public restrooms for hikers, expanding on its community accessibility.

Currently, Wayfarers Chapel is fundraising to cover the rebuild, with part of the funds going toward securing the site. Unlike wildfires, earthquakes, or flooding, landslides are not considered disasters in the State of California. Thus, along with fundraising efforts, local lobbying efforts are being made to add landslides to the list of covered emergencies, which could create a path to governmental assistance.

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