Bunshaft Residence, Modernist residential building in East Hampton, United States
The Bunshaft Residence is a modernist house built in 1962 by architect Gordon Bunshaft and designed as a single-story structure with sweeping glass walls and clean lines. The original travertine marble surfaces and strategic window placement created flowing interior spaces that connect directly to the surrounding landscape.
Architect Gordon Bunshaft built this house in 1962 as his only private residential project, departing from his usual focus on institutional buildings. The structure changed hands multiple times and was eventually replaced in 2008 with a new building that retained the original footprint.
The house represents a turning point in how wealthy homeowners thought about residential design during the 1960s. Visitors walking around the area can see how this building influenced the architectural expectations for the entire neighborhood.
The house sits on a private estate in an upscale residential area and is not open for tours or public visits. From the road, only portions of the building are visible, so those interested in the architecture should view it from a distance or look for photographs and design publications.
Despite its architectural importance, the original structure was demolished in 2008 due to maintenance challenges and ownership disputes, even after being briefly held by the Museum of Modern Art. This fate highlights the vulnerability of early modernist homes and how difficult it can be to preserve such buildings long-term.
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