Independent Arts News Reporting Critical Preservation Work Begins on the Nakashima Family House, a National Historic Landmark in New Hope, PA
Reported on Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Pictured Above: Researchers, historic preservationists and staff have taken the first steps in preservation of the Nakashima Family House. Photo Credit: The Nakashima Family House, 1949. © Ezra Stoller/Esto.
NEWSROOM POST: NEW HOPE, PENNSYLVANIA
Symposium at Nakashima Compound in New Hope, PA, Nakashima Collections at Moderne in Philadelphia and Rago Auction Are Among the Public Events Supporting the Historic Preservation
New Hope, PA — The Nakashima Foundation for Peace is proud to announce the start of a major preservation initiative for the Nakashima Family House, the home that master woodworker, architect, and designer George Nakashima built in New Hope, PA in 1946, just one year after World War II ended. This preservation effort marks an important milestone in safeguarding the legacy of one of America’s most celebrated designers and his philosophy of peace through craft. The Family House became the heart of a remarkable place. It was where George lived with wife Marion and raised their two children, Mira and Kevin, where his ideas were crafted into wood, and where the Nakashima legacy was born.
Preservation of Nakashima House Is Critical
Built by hand in 1946 by George Nakashima, the House stands as a masterwork of mid-20th-century design and a living expression of his philosophy of harmony between nature, craft, and humanity. Nearly eighty years later, the original materials and environmental systems are increasingly vulnerable to age, climate stress, and humidity fluctuations, placing both the structure and the irreplaceable collections inside at risk. This project addresses those urgent needs, ensuring that the House, designated a National Historic Landmark (2014), remains an enduring site of inspiration, education, and peace for generations to come.
The project follows the successful completion of an intensive planning phase, funded by grants from National Trust for Historic Preservation and Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, which earned the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia’s 2025 Preservation Achievement Award. This phase included the development of a comprehensive Historic Structure Report in collaboration with experts from the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate Program in Historic Preservation, documenting the house’s architecture, condition, and cultural significance to guide its long-term care.
Upcoming Public Program: Nakashima House Preservation Symposium
On November 15–16, 2025, the Nakashima Foundation for Peace will host a two-day symposium at the Nakashima compound in New Hope, PA, focusing on the challenges and strategies of preserving the Nakashima Family House and other mid-20th-century landmarks.
The symposium will feature presentations and panel discussions with the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate Program in Historic Preservation experts, including the team who led the creation of the Historic Structure Report. Topics will include:
-Architectural Documentation and Analysis – Capturing changes in the House over time
-Environmental Systems and Material Conservation – Addressing climate risks and aging systems
-Mid-Century Modern Preservation Challenges – Lessons learned from the Nakashima site and beyond
-Integrating Cultural Values into Preservation Planning – Honoring Nakashima’s philosophy of peace and craftsmanship
Participants will have the opportunity to tour the Nakashima property, including spaces rarely open to the public, and view archival materials that informed the preservation plan. The event will include a roundtable discussion on innovative preservation practices and sustainability for heritage sites.
Registration for the symposium is open:
https://nakashimafoundation.org/legacy-in-wood.
Space is limited, and early registration is encouraged. Tickets for day one are $125 and tickets for day two are $150.
Additional programs and events will support the preservation initiative by the Nakashima Foundation for Peace. An online benefit auction at Rago on September 18 will feature a special Nakashima coffee table of Claro walnut burl with English walnut graft, made by Mira Nakashima, with a preview at Rago September 11-18. Moderne Gallery in Philadelphia will host a special event on October 9 with a presentation about the preservation work of the Nakashima Family House, featuring Mira Nakashima, President, Nakashima Foundation for Peace, and faculty of the University of Pennsylvania Department of Historic Preservation.
Fundraising Campaign Launched
To make the next phase of preservation possible, the Nakashima Foundation has launched a fundraising campaign to support critical environmental upgrades and repairs to the House recommended in the Historic Structure Report. Contributions will help ensure the integrity of the building and preserve the craftsmanship and history embodied in every detail. Donations can be made at https://nakashimafoundation.org/honor-a-legacy.
To learn of additional special events and educational activities presented in support of the preservation initiative, visit https://nakashimafoundation.org.
About the Nakashima compound: From Incarceration to New Hope, PA
During World War II, George Nakashima and his family were among the thousands of Japanese Americans incarcerated at the Minidoka Relocation Center in Idaho. His release was made possible by Antonin Raymond, a Czech-born modernist architect and his partner and designer Noemi Raymond, with whom Nakashima had previously worked in Japan. The Raymonds sponsored Nakashima’s release and invited him and his family to live and work on his farm in New Hope, Bucks County. In 1945, Nakashima bought a parcel of farmland nearby and began constructing what would become the Nakashima compound.
About the Nakashima Foundation for Peace
The Nakashima Foundation for Peace is dedicated to preserving the legacy of George and Mira Nakashima. Their unique architectural vision and sense of design advanced the craft of woodworking to embrace broad cultural and ecological awareness. Our mission is to continue their woodworking tradition through education and to advance a message of global peace and unity, including the continued placement of Peace Tables around the World.
