George Nakashima House, Studio and Workshop facts for kids
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George Nakashima House, Studio and Workshop
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Conoid Studio
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1847 and 1858 Aquetong Rd., Solebury Township, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 12.2 acres (4.9 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 08000782 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 14, 2008 |
| Designated NHL | April 23, 2014 |
The George Nakashima House, Studio and Workshop is a special place in Solebury Township, Pennsylvania, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It was the home and workplace of a famous artist and furniture maker named George Nakashima (1905-1990). He designed and built all the houses and studio buildings himself!
Today, you can visit the studio parts of the compound to see where he worked. The family still lives in some of the houses. This amazing site was named a National Historic Landmark in April 2014. It was also listed on the World Monument Fund's 2014 Endangered Sites Watchlist, meaning it's a very important place to protect.
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What's at the Nakashima Compound?
The Nakashima compound is in a quiet, rural area south of New Hope, Pennsylvania. It covers more than 12 acres (4.9 ha) (about 4.9 hectares) on a hillside. There are 18 buildings in total. Seven of these buildings are homes, and the others are used for making and showing Nakashima's furniture and art.
Some of the homes are on the north side of Aquetong Road. These were built for Nakashima's daughter, Mira, and are not open to the public. On the south side of the road, you'll find the main house and other buildings like a garage. All these buildings mix a modern style called International Style with traditional Japanese design.
Key Studio Buildings
The most important studio buildings are the Conoid Studio and the Arts Building.
The Conoid Studio
George Nakashima built the Conoid Studio in 1960. It's a unique, single-story building with a concrete roof shaped like a gentle wave. The roof gets flatter towards the south. The walls are made from different materials like stone, concrete, and glass. Inside, the wavy roof creates a large open space. Wooden frames divide this space into areas for a kitchen, bathrooms, and an office.
The Arts Building
The Arts Building was built in 1967. Nakashima originally created it as a gallery to show the art of his friend, Ben Shahn. This building is 2.5 stories tall. It has a special curved roof made of plywood and covered with asphalt shingles. Now, it also displays many of Nakashima's own beautiful works.
You can visit eight of the buildings on the compound for tours. They ask for donations to help keep the site running.
Gallery
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Showroom.
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Finishing Department.
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Arts Building.
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Studio.
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Conoid Chair by George Nakashima
