DESILVER HOUSE
MADE FOR MODERN LIVING
DESILVER HOUSE
Catalogue Curation
Architectural Marketing Made for Modern Content Direction Jamie Wilson | Deckhand Architectural Editor Candice Witton Architectural Photography Š Michael Biondo
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Introduction
words by Natalie Louw edited by Candice Witton Photography by Michael Biondo
New Canaan contains one of the most significant collections of modernist residential architecture in America. DeSilver House is a prime example. In 1961, DeSilver House represented an opportunity for middle class America to own an architect-designed house without compromising on design or function. Today, DeSilver House continues to provide modern family living in the bucolic town of New Canaan, Connecticut.
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“For Lee, New Canaan was a “laboratory”, an atelier, in which architects experimented with ideas of what a house could be in a changing world.” — Gwen North Reiss On Behalf Of The Glass House
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Original Project Team
Architects John Black Lee A.I.A Harrison DeSilver A.I.A System House Inc 1963 New Canaan, Connecticut Year 1961 Builder Ernest R. Rau Awards Awarded the ‘Homes for Better Living’ Award 1964 Sponsored by the American Institute of Architects (AIA)
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John Black Lee Architect
engineering and naval science. He left his studies to join the military, and after serving in the Navy on the Pacific front during World War II, he returned to Brown where he received a bachelor of arts degree in 1947. After graduating from Brown, he worked as an apprentice carpenter for Walter Gropius in Chicago. Lee was recruited by Paul Schweikher (then dean of the Yale School of Architecture) to join his Illinois firm, Schweikher & Elting, where he learned architecture and drafting. Moving to the east coast, Lee worked for the pioneering architects Oskar Stonorov, followed by Eliot Noyes. In 1952, Lee designed his first family home; Lee House 1. John Black Lee went on to establish his own practice, John Black Lee & Associates in 1954. Lee designed and built Lee House 2 on Chichester Road in 1956. Teaze House was built in 1961, and the Day House in 1966. It was said that all of John Black Lee’s houses had a Miesian sense of proportion. John Black Lee’s designs are beautifully documented and illustrated in The Harvard Five in New Canaan by William D. Earls, AIA. John Black Lee passed away on the 13th April 2016, in his beloved town of New Canaan at the age of 91.
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ARCHITECTS PROFILES
Born in Chicago in 1924, Lee enrolled at Brown University in 1942 to study mathematics, civil
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Harrison DeSilver Architect
Harrison DeSilver was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1914. Harrison DeSilver graduated from Columbia in 1953 with a degree in architecture. He made his way to New Canaan in 1960 after attending one of the New Canaan Modern House Tours. He was inspired by what he saw and indeed the unique community of architects that had descended on the town. He was notoriously shy and very modest when it came to his professional work. DeSilver House was one of the first projects that he designed with John Black Lee. DeSilver House was completed in 1961 and in time to be part of the 1961 Modern House Tour in New Canaan. The professional partnership between  John Black Lee + Harrrison DeSilver extended for well over 20 years.
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“What these houses didn’t feature was also telling. The work was restrained, authentic, and there wasn’t an inch of space wasted for effect.” — Alan Goldberg
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ELEGANT
Poggenpohl Cabinetry
+ FUNCTIONAL
New CaesarStone Counter -Tops
The kitchen and separate pantry
Double Miele Pyrolytic Ovens
room provide an elegant and functional space with direct access
Miele Induction Cooking
to the outdoor patios. How very modern.
Jorn Utzon Pendant Lighting Heath Ceramic Tile
KITCHEN SPECIFICATIONS
STAIRCASE
The main entrance opens onto the open-riser staircase that leads upstairs to the bedrooms and downstairs to the living and kitchen space. The stair channels & connectors were manufactured by the Unistrut Products Co; Chicago, IL. The stairway also leads down to a third level with an additional study, children’s play room and basement area.
HEARTH
The hearth is at the very heart of living in DeSilver House. It appears to float above the main living space and informally divides the space into three intimate areas. Dining, lounge and reading spaces are all accommodated. It is a delight to sit by the fire and look out onto the landscape - whatever the season holds.
LIGHTING
Recessed lighting provides for beautifully soft light on the main level of DeSilver House. The light can be dimmed using the original oversized dial mounted on the wall. Additional lighting by Jorn Utzon, Louis Poulsen and George Nelson provide beautiful and thoughtful architectural lighting.
GLASS
Floor to ceiling glass walls feature in every room of DeSilver House. The glass walls invite you to be a part of the changing landscape year round. The thermal properties ensure comfort throughout the seasonal changes.
PASSIVE DESIGN
Shelter is provided to the ground level patios by the deep overhang on all four sides of the house. The roof of the house extends well beyond the footprint of the house and provides summer relief to the second-floor balconies.
DESIGN DETAIL
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DAYBED / SOFA SUITE Designer
The minimal aesthetic of these pieces make them
Peter Hvidt Orla Mølgaard Nielsen
timeless classics. The rattan surface of the corner table
Manufacturer
contrasts beautifully with the teak. The quality is what
France & Son
you can expect from France & Son. Origin Denmark
Date 1955
Material Teak
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ROCKING CHAIR / TALLBOY Designer
The Boomerang Rocking Chair is an iconic mid-century
Georg Jensen
modern chair. Solid teak framing and a beautifully Manufacturer Kubus
sculptured base make for a timeless modern piece.
Date 1950’s
Material Teak
Origin Denmark
The dresser features an elegant design with two top
Date
doors concealing interior shelving, and two drawers at
1960’s
the bottom. It is decorated with bevelled face edging, Material Teak
tapered peg legs, and a rich color which compliments the
Dimensions
beautiful teak grain.
W 31.5” D 17.5” H 44.5”
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LOUNGE CHAIRS Designer
Jens Risom was one of the first designers to bring
Jens Risom
traditional Scandinavian values of form, function, and Manufacturer Knoll Studio
craftsmanship to the United States, creating post-World
Date
War II Danish-modern furniture design.
1941
Material
Risom Furniture is permanently exhibited in many
Maple and Webbing
major institutions including: Brooklyn Museum, Museum of Modern Art, Rhode Island School of Design Museum, and the Yale Museum of Art and Design.
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Landscape DeSilver House appears as a delightful and unexpected surprise at the end of the meandering private driveway. The house anchors beautifully to the landscape. John Black Lee said that the houses of the time all had something to do with the land that they were built on. This is certainly true of DeSilver House. The Birch trees that pepper the property provide a theatre of dappled light in the late afternoon. Established Maples are productive during the tapping season if you want to try your hand at syrup production. Designed as a sunken square, the fire pit gives a nod to the design of DeSilver House. The Fire Pit is surrounded by seating constructed from New England stone. Protected by established Birch Trees, the fire pit provides an inviting outdoor space to entertain.
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“They planned it as a subdivision of modern houses, in fact, they required that the houses be modern.� Chichester Road stands as an extraordinary testament to the vision of the young architects who descended on New Canaan with abundant confidence and creativity. They came to challenge themselves and indeed the entrenched conservatism of the town at the time.
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THE TOWN OF
NEW CANAAN
New Canaan’s wealth lies in its town parks, Waveny, Irwin + Mead Parks, and the New Canaan Nature Centre to name but a few. Beautiful open spaces for all to enjoy. With restaurants and cafes that celebrate and support local producers, through to the wonderful annual events held to celebrate Easter, Halloween and Christmas, New Canaan was made for modern living.
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LOCATION
The town of New Canaan is located in Fairfield County, Connecticut. The town is only one hour from New York City. Serviced by two train stations, New Canaan and Talmadge Hill, it makes for an agreeable commute to New York City.
THE GLASS HOUSE
The Glass House by Philip Johnson is sited on 47 acres of bucolic land. It was completed by Johnson in 1949. The Glass House is best understood as a pavilion for viewing the surrounding landscape. Invisible from the road, the house sits on a promontory overlooking a pond with views towards the woods beyond. – glasshouse.org
GORES PAVILION AT IRWIN PARK
The Gores Pavilion was designed by Landis Gores in 1960. It was commissioned by the Irwin family as a Pool House for entertaining. The Gores Pavilion with its dramatic cantilevers and hinged glass facades was sited on the expansive Irwin estate. Slated for demolition in 2005, the Pavilion was ultimately saved and then restored thanks in large to the generosity of the New Canaan Historical Society supporters and matching State Grants.
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Schools The New Canaan Public School District scored impressively high marks nationally and state-wide recently in the “2018 Best Schools� survey (Niche.com) The New Canaan Public School District was ranked as one of the best in the nation in several categories and landed in the top 1% overall. The New Canaan High School was ranked #1 in Best Public High School in Connecticut The survey also awarded New Canaan Public Schools with an A+ in Academics, A+ in Health & Safety, A+ in Clubs & Activities, A+ in College Prep, and A+ for Teachers.
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House Specifications
4 Bed 2.5 Bath 3 Car Heated Garage 2.97 acres Town Water
“A modern house,” the architect concludes, “must provide all the material comforts that American people have a right to demand but these need not conflict with the emotional fulfillment that every man expects in a home. These emotional qualities are the hardest to appraise and the hardest to achieve, but one knows instinctively when they are present.” Pietro Belluschi, Life Magazine 06 Oct 1958
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DESILVER HOUSE ENQUIRIES words by Made for Modern
We would be delighted to speak with you regarding your interest in DeSilver House. Contact: Natalie Louw E: natalie@madeformodern.co newcanaanmodern.org
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www.newcanaanmodern.org