Nakashima, George, Woodworker Complex
Why it's listed
Built on a wooded ridge in Solebury Township, Bucks County, the complex was begun in 1946 when furniture maker George Nakashima started a workshop on three acres of Quaker farmland along Aquetong Road, in exchange for carpentry work. His family house, workshop, showroom, finishing department and lumber storage buildings followed over the next decades, with additional buildings completed through 1977. Several structures use experimental roof forms: the conoid studio, completed in 1960, has a concrete shell only about 2 1/2 inches thick with sinusoidal waves, and the chair department and main lumber storage building use conoid and hyperbolic paraboloid shells. Nakashima designed most buildings and supervised their construction himself, working with engineers Paul Weidlinger, Mario Salvadori and Matthys Levy. The Arts Building, completed in 1967, contains a tile mosaic by Ben Shahn. The property is significant for its link to Nakashima, whose furniture was sold worldwide and who lived and worked there until his death in 1990.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex is significant under criterion B for its association with George Nakashima, a woodworker and designer who lived and worked on the property until his death in 1990. The buildings, many designed by Nakashima with experimental roof engineering, reflect his furniture craftsmanship and his blend of Modern and Japanese design traditions.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 08000782, listed August 14, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1847 and 1858 Aquetong Rd., Solebury |
|---|---|
| County | Bucks County |
| Listed | August 14, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08000782 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1946-1990 |
| Architect / builder | George Nakashima (designer and builder); Paul Weidlinger, Mario Salvadori and Matthys Levy (structural engineers) |
| Architectural style | International Style with traditional Japanese influences |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated April 22, 2014 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The property continues to be used for residences, education, production, storage and administration, and is operated by Mira Nakashima in furniture production. |
| Acreage | 12.2 |
| Coordinates | 40.33998, -74.95592 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 08000782.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5542784
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.