Breuer, Marcel, House II

History

Built in 1947, it was designed by architect Marcel Breuer as a home for his family. The cantilevered design, featuring glazing, wood, and stone finishes, helped bring attention to Breuer's fledgling architectural practice in New York City. The house was generally praised when it was completed, and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Breuer family occupied the house for just four years, after which it was sold to opera singer Russell Roberts, who rented the property out. The Robeck family bought the house in 1964 and made several modifications over the next three decades, including a garage and a swimming pool. The Robecks also hired Breuer associate Herbert Beckhard to design a rear annex between 1985 and 1988. The house was sold in 1994 to John P. Horgan, who obtained a preservation easement on the property. It was resold to a limited liability company, 122 Sunset LLC, in 2022.

The house sits on a hillside within a 3-acre (1.2 ha) estate, overlooking a meadow. The original house measures 74 by 20 feet (22.6 by 6.1 m), while the annex measures 54 by 20 feet (16.5 by 6.1 m). The lower level is recessed from the upper level, which, as built, was cantilevered from a set of cables at the roofline. The main living areas are placed on the upper level, with a central kitchen and dining area flanked by bedrooms to the south and a living room to the north. The lower or basement level contains secondary spaces such as a child's bedroom, workshop, and playroom. There are additional rooms in the annex.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. The official nomination form is linked under Sources.