“Don’t you ever let a soul in the world tell you that you can’t be exactly who you are” ~ Lady Gaga
Yesterday was back in the field with the American Architecture class. We took a trip to Pope Villa, one of only three remaining structural designs by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, the second architect of the U.S. Capitol Building and often credited as being the grandfather of Architecture as a profession. From the outside, Pope Villa couldn’t be more simple, but its unadorned exterior hides one of the most unusual interiors in America. Rather than reinvent the wheel, here’s a short, succinct article with additional photos and drawings by the incomparable Janie-Rice Brother. If you’re interested in knowing more about Pope Villa, Janie-Rice is the go-to gal.
Unfortunately, as a result of arson in 1987, much of the interior was destroyed including the highly unique second-story rotunda (below). The Blue Grass Trust now owns the house, but the damage is so extensive that precisely how much to restore has been a sticking point, not to mention incredibly expensive. The most interesting part of the tour was the discussion about how to renovate it, and how to make it self-sustaining once it’s restored. There’s so much yet to learn.
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