the glass house project fosters literal and historical transparency at 'menokin' ruins in virginia

construction work has begun on the ‘glass house project’, which will transform and preserve the ruins of a historic building in the US state of virginia that was the home of francis lightfoot lee — a signer of the declaration of independence. with architectural design by boston-based firm machado silvetti, the initiative will preserve the remaining portions of the 1769 ‘menokin’ house and replace missing walls, floors, and sections of the roof with glass. the glass serves not merely as a protective covering for the fragile original structure, but as part of an integral whole that brings the house back to life.

image courtesy of machado silvetti | main image courtesy of menokin foundation

the glass engineering, led by eckersley o’callaghan, blends with the 18th century stone, brick, and timber. while traditional restoration methods cover evidence of the human story that historic structures present, the transparent design seeks to emphasize the deconstructed architectural elements of the building and provide a literal window into the lives of those who built, lived, and worked at menokin. fingerprints are visible in the handmade bricks, marks of hand tools are etched on the timbers, and the successes and failures of the builders are revealed.

image courtesy of machado silvetti

upon completion of the project, visitors will be able to enter the house and explore both the remnants of the original building and the new spaces defined by the glass structure. views of the surrounding landscape through the glass walls will connect visitors to the natural environment and the traces of the tobacco plantation where generations of enslaved laborers once worked. this interplay of interior and exterior, historic past and modern-day design, allows a layered and complex look not only at the house, but also the people who lived on the site over the centuries — the native american rappahannock tribe, the english settlers, the lee family, and the people who were enslaved at menokin.

image courtesy of machado silvetti

‘with the glass house project, and all the initiatives on the menokin site, our goal is making history visceral, real, and relevant, and showing people how they are a part of the continuum of stories that make up the identity of a place,’ explains the menokin foundation’s executive director, sam mckelvey. ‘menokin links together the sweep of history — the american indian experience, the arrival of the english in north america, the story of chattel slavery and privilege, the colonial period and the revolutionary war, the civil war and civil rights to our own time.’

drawing of menokin from historic american buildings survey (HABS) | image courtesy of menokin foundation

‘the remains of the menokin plantation challenged our imagination to develop a design that, while preserving and restoring what exists, would provide the visitor with an innovative, distinctive experience,’ says jorge silvetti, co-founding principal of machado silvetti. ‘without resorting to reconstruction or re-enactments of past actions, the work we developed together with the menokin foundation and the extraordinary professional team of consultants, advisors, and supporters, will engage the visitor in an immersive experience provoking not only their curiosity but their active imagination.’

historic image of menokin | image courtesy of menokin foundation

‘the glass structure is the design feature that best encapsulates this idea,’ silvetti continues. ‘it will allow visitors to fully understand the original house, re-establish its overall configuration, its footprint and its functions, and from both the outside and the comfort of the inside, highlight its relationships to the natural environment. at the same time, it will reveal, at close range, what is usually not seen: the work of restoration and conservation, the materials used and the methods and craftsmanship involved in local construction.’

historic image of menokin | image courtesy of menokin foundation

continuing archaeological discoveries and programming and exhibits on the menokin site will be used to help tell the story of those who are often overlooked in historic accounts: the plantation’s enslaved laborers and the rappahannock tribe who lived on the land for centuries. the menokin foundation was founded in 1995 to preserve and interpret the remains of the house — one of the best documented 18th-century homes in the united states. the original structure, which had fallen into ruin, is a national historic landmark and stands on 500 acres of open agricultural fields, woodlands, and waterways in the rural northern neck of virginia. the completed restoration project is expected to open to the public in early 2023.

aerial view of menokin | image courtesy of menokin foundation

project info:

name: the glass house project
location: warsaw, virginia, US
organization: menokin foundation
architecture: machado silvetti
construction: consigli construction co. inc
archaeology: DATA investigations, LLC
glass design: eckersley o’callaghan
historical architect: encore sustainable architects
preservation technology: john fidler
landscape architecture: reed hilderbrand
lighting design: tillotson design associates