August 2010

What is Mid Century Modern Architecture

What is Mid Century Modern Architecture?

 The new buzz word around Fairfield County lately is Mid- Century modern architecture. Some times called “California Contemporary”, Mid -Century modern architecture is usually defined as buildings constructed between the 1940’s through the late 1960’s. Norwalk, Westport, Weston, Stamford, and especially New Canaan all have some very fine examples of this type of architecture. Typically Mid-Century modern architecture features include clean lines, open floor plans, walls of glass and the feeling of living within nature. These innovative architects with their simplistic styles were considered ahead of their time.

 Some of the local pioneers of Mid-Century modern architecture are John Black Lee, Victor Christ-Janer, George Nemeny, and a group called the Harvard Five; John Johansen, Marcel Breuer, Landis Gores, Eliot Noyes and Phillip Johnson.

Phillip Johnson designed the famous Glass House in New Canaan. This house which is on the National Historic Register was his primary residence until his death in 2005. The house and all of its out buildings are currently open for tours.

 There are a couple of developments in Norwalk that could be considered true Mid-Century modern style. Village Creek was the first modern development in Norwalk. This 67 home community was designed by notable architects like Klaus Grabe, Percy Ifill, and Edger Tafel. This forward thinking community is situated along Long Island sound between Outer Road and Dock Road. Village Creek was built in 1950 and it will be celebrating its sixtieth anniversary this year.  This community currently has an application on file for National Historic Register status.

 The second Mid- Century modern community consists of thirty homes and was built between 1952 and 1955. Located in West Norwalk along five Mile River on Prince’s Pine Rd. and Alewives Rd. these homes were featured in Homes and Garden magazine specifically because of the way they were built using innovative materials and each home was sited by the developer to sit perfectly into the landscape.

 Norwalk has some examples of Mid -Century architecture outside of these developments. A very early example is the R.P. Ettinger house designed by Kahn and Jacobs in 1940 and is located on the border of Norwalk and Westport.  There is also a uniquely designed home built in 1954 by R.W. Vansummern nestled along the Silvermine River. A mid-century home situated along Five Mile River in West Norwalk home originally designed in 1952 by George Nemeny and built for the President of the Burndy Corporation has been recently restored by its current architect owner. Both the Silvermine home and the West Norwalk home are currently listed for sale.

 The Westport Historical Society just recently had an exhibit “When Cool was Hot”. This exhibit featured some of the examples of Westport and Weston’s Mid- Century modern homes. The exhibit was put together by Historic Preservationist Morley Boyd and Architect Michael Glynn. After a failed attempt to save the Paul Rudolph house in Westport from the wrecking ball they decided to bring more awareness to the public about these homes.  These homes are usually situated on great pieces of property and are small in size. This unfortunately gives a perfect opportunity for someone to knock the house down and build a much larger home in its place.

New Canaan is nationally recognized for its many examples of modern architecture. Approximately 100 modern homes were built in town, and about 20 have been torn down.

 Information about most Mid -Century modern homes is difficult to find. Despite their recent construction, many of these structures have changed hands many times and their histories have been lost in the process. Mid-Century modern architects are just beginning to be recognized.

 As a Mid -Century modern enthusiast, I’m hopeful in the near future that the public starts to really appreciate all that this form of design has to offer. For further information on localMid -Century homes for sale please contact us.

 Peter Bondi
Bondi Realty Group LLC

203-899-9990

Norwalk CT Property Sales Transfers June 16 – 30

22 Willow Street
Estate of Robert Tausz to David Miles, $275,000

 11 Alrowood Drive
John Santo to Robert Santo, $192,500

 296 Main Avenue #3
Deutsche Bank National Trust Co to Joseph Freda, $110,000

 136 Newtown Avenue Unit 13
Chistopher Carozoi to Theresa Kolena, $385,000

 3 Carriage Drive
Norma & David Lenore to Richard & Michelle Bromley, $580,000

 27 Rowayton Woods Drive Unit 25
Helen Citrin to John Higgins, $375,000

 138 Highland Avenue
Karl & Cecily Ziegler to Sallie Frederick, $1,265,000

 17 Devonshire Road
Eugene & Theresa Vozzo to Heather Jossem, $649,900

 130 Main Street Unit C0
Lockwood Terrace LLC to Richaed & Heidi Chang, $353,640

 50 Fairview Avenue Unit 4K
M.L. Bloomenthal-committee to Cross Properties, LLC, $105,000

 3 Carol Drive
Arthur & Barbara Greco to Marcie Barrett, $315,000

 3 Valley View Road Unit 18
Estate of Ruth Kaslove to Tara Garcia, $328,750

 1 Nearwater Road
Michael Barbis to Scott & Charlotte Sabbagh, $1,475,250

 1 Horizon Drive Unit 20
Christopher Weber & Yang Li to Erin Lalime, $254,000

 18 Juhasz Road
Lori Sackowitz to Todd Forcellina, $495,000

 507 Foxboro Drive
Susan Cross to Cynthia Miressi, $465,000

 14 Fillow Street
Janet Mete to Gladys Ramirez, $315,000

 10 Ridge Farms Road
Jayne & Ronald Srader to Naveen Andrews & Nita Babu, $751,500

 71 Aiken Street Unit E1
Karen McFadden to Anya Gilzene, $308,500

 4 Birch Street
Frances & Charlotte Fitzgerald, $475,000

 27 Birchside Drive
David Mills to Emilia Baginska & Polak Waldemar, $410,000

 135 ½ Partick Avenue
Christopher & Kerri Leavay, $645,000

 12-12 ½ Hamilton Avenue
James & Gregory Deluca to Doris Ganga, $472,500

 9 Gordon Street
Elaine Palmenta & John Ramanauskas to Christopher Morgan & Terri Kijek, $202,000

 16 Dock Road
Paul Littell to Terry Simms, $700,500

 44 ½ Stevens Street
John Oulton to Michael  Michelle Costabile, $308,000

 2 Field Street
Estate of Joan Lucas to Daniel Byrne & Marian Healy, $196,250

 110 Ward Street
U.S. Bank to Peter Petrov, $310,000

 8 Highland Avenue
Thomas & Stacia Devlin to Emily Grabowski, $1.050,000

 6 Hazel Street
Heath & Danielle Bender to Tyler Hall & Jennifer O’Toole, $470,000

 10 Splitrock Road
Estate of George Manier to Velinda Simo, $280,000

 139 Newtown Avenue
Eric Schneider & Catherine Humphries, To Sean & Jill Curran, $483,500

 80 County Street Unit 9E
Nayan J. Champaigne to Christopher & Elizabeth Manuli, $216,000

 19 Bettswood Road
Phyllis Jackson Hall trust to James Torres, $450,000

 5 Rockland Road Unit A8
Christopher Tanana & Catherine McNulty to Cristina Cosentino, $280,000

 241 Highland Avenue
Martha Wertz toMichael Nikolas, $500,000

 46 Prospect Street Unit 1B
Maria Loor to Curtis Obrien, $140,000

 94 Maywood Road
Janice Kosinski to Harry & Kathryn Amyotte, $600,000

 23 Poplar Street
Irene Alarcon to Kieran & Laila Hawe, $410,000

 911 Foxboro Drive
Estate of Anna D’Orso to Kathleen Durkin, $370,000

 310 Ely Avenue Unit H
Cutrone Properties LLC to Isaiah & Hermigida Rivera, $239,900

 142 Rowayton Woods Drive
Janet Ryder to James & Priscilla Murphy, $350,000

 2 Pink Cloud Lane
Allen & Ann Adams to Stephen Romano, $506,500

 11 Nordon Place Unit 10
Holli Lelle to Erica Torres, $135,890

 34 Ferris Avenue Unit B1
Woodbury LLC to Geoffery Wang, $390,000

 1226 Foxboro Drive
Roger Giler to Christopher Lawther, $495,000