Valand

Triangle Modernist Houses

Compiled by George Smart, Jr.

LEIF VALAND (1915-1985)

Leif Valand was born in Norway and came to Jersey City with his family as a boy. He attended Pratt Institute in New York City then practiced in Scarsdale NY. He moved to Raleigh in the late 1940s to design the Cameron Village Shopping Center for developers J. Willie York and R. A. Bryan. The vision was massive, even by today's standards, comprising 65 stores, 112 offices, 566 apartment units, and 100 private homes.

During his heyday, he was one of the most prolific architects in Raleigh. With just a few employees, his extensive contacts with Raleigh's business and real estate elite gained incredible commissions. Cameron Village Shopping Center was just the beginning. Later came Cameron Village Office Buildings, Cameron Village Apartments (St. Mary’s, Smallwood, Nichols, Daniels), Enloe High School, The Federal Building on New Bern Avenue, North Ridge Country Club, North Hills Shopping Center, the Central Raleigh YMCA, the Velvet Cloak Hotel, the State Administration Building, the Raleigh Women's Club, and St. Michael's Episcopal Church. Few of his records remain. In 1969, Valand took on a partner, Nelson Benzing. Valand became very ill and retired. Due to this and a bad economy, Benzing closed the firm. According to Benzing, Valand's blueprints were lost by Valand's executors.

Valand and his wife Wymene and three sons lived in a decidedly non-modernist 1952 house at 706 Woodburn Road, Raleigh, in Cameron Village. Designed by Charles Davis of Cooper Haskins. Valand would later adapt the one-level house for his wheelchair. Sold to Justine Rozier in 1989. 2200 sf.

1950 - The James Poyner House, 710 Smedes Place, Raleigh. Poyner was Raleigh's most prominent attorney for decades. His son, also named James, lives there now.

1952 - According to M. Ruth Little, Valand is the likely architect for the Thompson House, 715 Greenwood Road, Chapel Hill. 2796 sf. Sold to Harry and Erma Gold. Sold to Thomas Krenitsky. Sold to Joseph Sica. Sold to current owner Thomas Tucker.

1951 - The Ed N. and Helene Richards House. 2116 Banbury Road, Raleigh. Richards was the developer for Carolina Country Club and North Hills Mall. Sold to Robert and Evelyn Andrews in 1975. Bought in 1985 by Samuel and Bonnie Thompson. Richards was instrumental in attracting Nelson Benzing to join Valand's practice.

1952 - The Banks Kerr House, 703 Smedes Place, Raleigh. Bought in 1985 by John and Susan Williams.

1953 - The I. J. and Sophie Green Residence, 1715 Picadilly Lane, Raleigh. Upon Sophie's death it was sold to Tuscany Construction Group in 2006. In late 2007, the house was destroyed (below). A new house designed by Raleigh East Designs is under construction.

1956 - The Pierce Oliver "Kidd" Brewer House, 5509 Homewood Banks Drive, Raleigh. The property was known as "Belle Acres" after Brewer's mother, Jennie Belle Jones Brewer. Brewer was a star football player and coach then an aide to two U.S. senators. In the 1950s he bought 115 acres of land outside of town near the intersection of U.S. 70 and the forthcoming Raleigh Beltline. Soon this would become Crabtree Valley, one of the biggest shopping centers in the South. In 1963, he went to jail for bid-rigging and had a huge "going-in party" at this fabulous house high above Crabtree Creek, the first in Raleigh to have both indoor and outdoor swimming pools. In the middle 1980's, he sold the house and it became the Crossroads Restaurant. Eventually the restaurant failed and was replaced by Its Prime Only. That restaurant closed and the building was abandoned for several years. It burned (aerial shot, left) in 2006. The pools were in the oval area at the top of the building.

Valand's son Mark recalls the house was featured in either Life or Look Magazine in the 1950's.

Brewer's nephew Ben Brewer recalls that "the home was built as a square horseshoe. One pool was located just North of the home by about 30 feet. It overlooked the Crabtree Valley where the Mall now sits. In the younger years we would sit by the pool and look over the acres down to a pretty good sized lake. Te lake site would probably be in one of the Mall parking areas...if not directly inside the Mall. The second, smaller pool, I would say measured 15 feet by 20 feet in size. It was on the inside of the horseshoe. There was a tree growing right through the ceiling to the outside. I don't recall exactly, but I think the roofing there was some kind of hard plastic covering. The east wing of the horseshoe had the bedrooms and bathrooms in it. The top of the horseshoe, if it were standing on end, housed a very large living room and kitchen all open. Then on the east part of the horseshoe was another middle sized room used for personal talking. . It didn't get much use as I recall. Most family gatherings took place in the main grand room. It had floor to ceiling glass panels which gave one a panorama view of all of the area east to west and north for as far as the eye could see."

Other houses:

1946 - The York Residence, 1904 Craig Street, Raleigh. The 3.5-acre home of prominent developer J. Willie York, one of the first modernist houses in Raleigh. Now owned by his son, former Raleigh Mayor George "Smedes" York. No photo. Do you have one?

The Willie York House, Pleasant Valley Drive, Raleigh, now destroyed. In 1972, it was damaged by fire that broke out about 2:30pm in downstairs family room of the palatial structure and spread to an adjoining bedroom. It was slated to be remodeled as a clubhouse for proposed apartment complex. No photo. Do you have one?

1959 - The Peden House on 909 Willliamson Drive, Raleigh. The land has been in the Peden family since 1945/ Currently owned by Melissa Peden. No photo. Do you have one?