Breuer House II – 1951

Marcel Breuer – Breuer House II, New Canaan, Connecticut-USA, 1951

Breuer House II is the second house (hence the name) in New Canaan, designed by Hungarian architect Marcel Breuer. It also became his residence for him and his family, after they emigrated from Europe to the United States. Marcel Breuer and his wife acquired the property in 1951 and he was able to complete the construction by the end of that year. The gardens and terraces were completed a year later.
Unlike his first home on Sunset Hill Road, Breuer House I, New Canaan, this home was designed to be a single-story, flat-roofed structure clad in stone and glass, with a flat-roofed carport. Stone was integrated as the primary building material and is unique to the region. The home was designed around a U-shaped plan enclosing a courtyard with a stone terrace. A key feature of this home was the focus on public living spaces. The master bedroom and a bathroom were positioned at one end. The nursery, guest bedrooms and an additional bathroom were at the other, all centrally connected by the kitchen, utility room and warming room. Similar to Breuer's first home, the interior integrated a neutral scheme with bold pops of primary colors complemented by vibrant artwork.

In 1975 the Breuers sold the property and it was redesigned and renovated by the new owners. The work was completed between 1975 and 1982. The renovations were later featured in the Architectural Record Houses in 1981. As part of the redesign, a new one-story children's wing, a new garage, swimming pool, underground pool house and finally a greenhouse were added.

Ownership has changed hands several times since 1990, and was finally purchased to save the house from demolition. The current owners, Robert Bishop, are removing additions made between 1975 and 1982. A freestanding structure was designed and built by Toshiko Mori. The latest work will connect to the original house through the implementation of a glass staircase.

This home was considered very contemporary and innovative when it was originally built, it was later featured in several publications including the New York Times and Holiday Magazine.