Hastings Prototype House

The Hastings Prototype House in Hastings-on-Hudson is a dwelling made from precast concrete wall and floor panels mounted on a steel frame structure. A distinctive bowl-shaped roof crowns this cubic frame, creating its most recognizable feature.

Architect Charles Horn designed this experimental dwelling in the 1930s as an innovative housing solution during economic hardship. The structure gained recognition when it was displayed at the 1939 New York World's Fair.

The house embodies 1930s Moderne design with forward-thinking construction methods developed during economic hardship. Its progressive approach reflects how architects sought new ways of building homes for ordinary people.

The property sits at the corner of Farragut Parkway and High Street on a sloping plot that descends westward. The grounds hold both the main residence and a detached garage.

The house installed one of the first gas-fired heating systems in Westchester County, making it a technological pioneer in the region. Beyond that, it was part of an ambitious plan to expand similar building methods to Florida.

Location: New York

GPS coordinates: 40.98458,-73.87111

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:00