Nuits, Renaissance Revival mansion in Irvington, New York, United States
Nuits is a Renaissance Revival house in Irvington, New York, built with Caen stone and facing the Hudson River valley from elevated grounds. A separate carriage house stands on the property alongside an octagonal conservatory that opens toward the water.
Francis Cottenet, a French merchant, commissioned architect Detlef Lienau to design this house in 1855 on the Hudson shore. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, recognized as one of the few surviving examples of Lienau's residential work.
The name comes from a French wine region, a nod to the European tastes of the merchant who built it. This French connection shows up in the architectural choices visible throughout the house today.
The property sits on elevated grounds and can be reached on foot from the center of Irvington without much difficulty. Because it remains a private residence, visitors can generally see it only from the outside unless a special occasion allows entry.
Cyrus West Field, the entrepreneur behind the first transatlantic telegraph cable, once lived here and placed permanent restrictions on the property to keep it as a private residence. This means the house has never been converted or redeveloped, which is unusual for a property of this age and standing.
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