Belinda Stewart Architects Tapped for Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fountainhead Preservation in Jackson

Belinda Stewart Architects has been chosen by the Mississippi Museum of Art (MMA) to lead a comprehensive preservation project for the renowned Fountainhead, a home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in Jackson, Mississippi. The initiative aims to restore the architectural gem for future public access and use.

Wright completed the design for Fountainhead in 1954 for J. Willis Hughes, who resided there with his family until 1980. The property was subsequently added to the National Register of Historic Places in the same year. The home gained its colloquial name, Fountainhead, believed to be influenced by Ayn Rand’s novel and the residence’s prominent water features.

Por que importa

A significant figure in the home’s history, the late architect Robert Parker Adams, dedicated years to its restoration and lived in the house for nearly five decades. Adams listed the property for sale in June 2025, and he passed away the following month. In November 2025, the Mississippi Museum of Art acquired Fountainhead.

Fountainhead, a “phenomenal work of art” and a “distinctly Mississippi story,” according to founder Belinda Steward, joins the MMA’s collection. The museum’s decision to acquire the Wright-designed home was inspired by the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art’s acquisition and relocation of the historic Bachman-Wilson House. Crystal Bridges relocated the Bachman-Wilson House from New Jersey to its campus in Arkansas, where it serves as a permanent exhibition.

Contexto

Belinda Steward Architects is assembling a team of Mississippi-based professionals and national consultants with specialized expertise to ensure the meticulous preservation of the Jackson property. Working in collaboration with Fountainhead curator Jennifer Baughn, the architectural firm will prepare a historic structure report. This report will encompass a detailed condition assessment, digital modeling of the building, and a prioritized plan for necessary treatments.

The preservation project is expected to strengthen the MMA’s connection with the city of Jackson, as noted by Betsy Bradley, Director of MMA Laurie Hearin McRee. Belinda Stewart Architects will oversee critical structural repairs, evaluate and rehabilitate the surrounding landscape, and implement modifications to ensure accessibility and code compliance. These upgrades are essential for the building’s intended new function as a museum and event venue. Diagnostic work on the building’s structure is slated to commence immediately. The Fountainhead is anticipated to open its doors to the public in 2028.

Key facts
| Feature | Detail |
|—|—|
| Architect of the home | Frank Lloyd Wright |
| Home name | Fountainhead |
| Location | Jackson, Mississippi |
| Acquiring institution | Mississippi Museum of Art |
| Lead preservation architects | Belinda Stewart Architects |
| Expected public opening | 2028 |

This development is significant for architecture enthusiasts and professionals as it ensures the preservation of a rare Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home. The project not only safeguards a piece of architectural history but also promises to make a unique cultural asset accessible to the public, highlighting the ongoing importance of conserving significant modernist structures.

Source: The Architect’s Newspaper (https://www.archpaper.com/2026/07/belinda-steward-architects-frank-lloyd-wright-jackson-mississippi/)

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