Set atop a bluff overlooking the expanse of the Hudson River in Croton-on-Hudson, a hamlet just 40 miles from New York City, is the Neumann House, a mid-century modern retreat designed by Marcel Breuer (1902-1981). Offered by William Pitt and Julia B Fee / Sotheby's International Realty, the home is priced at US$4.2 million (£3.3 million).
Vera Neumann, the artist and fashion designer whose scarves were worn by Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly, commissioned Breuer to mastermind the 4,000-square-foot home, which was built in 1953.
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The Hungarian-born architect and designer was first a student at the Bauhaus school in Weimar in 1920, and after being recognised by founder Walter Gropius, he became the head of the architecture department after the school moved to Dessau. He is best known for his tubular steel and leather Wassily chair (1925) and the steel and cane Cesca chair (1928)
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After the Bauhaus school was shuttered in 1933 by the Nazi party, Breuer spent time in London and Cambridge, Massachusetts, teaching at Harvard, and moved to New York City in 1946. He designed homes in the surrounding vicinity, including the Hudson River Valley and Connecticut, as well as buildings like The Whitney Museum of American Art (now the Met Breuer) on Madison Avenue.
The Neumann home showcases Breuer's Brutalist style, which emerged in the post-war era, and features minimalist design, the combination of natural and industrial materials, and geometric structures. Here, Breuer incorporates natural stone for the outdoor wall, terrace and indoor flooring, and puts the emphasis on the natural landscape with floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding doors.
The third and current owners, who are fans of Breuer's work and once owned the Breuer-designed Stillman House in Litchfield, updated the Neumann home with 21st-century amenities and appliances. The property spans 3.4 acres and includes 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, indoor and outdoor pools, a guesthouse and a large terrace. Last year, the home won a 2019 Preservation League of NY Award for Excellence in Historical Restoration.
For design aficionados seeking a mid-century modern retreat within an hour of Manhattan, the Neumann house offers rich history and panoramic views of the region's natural beauty.
