The Crimson Beech

The Crimson Beech is a single-story residence by architect Frank Lloyd Wright situated on a hillside in Staten Island with low-pitched roofs and expansive window openings. The interior combines Philippine mahogany, a sunken living room with high ceilings, and four bedrooms linked by gallery hallways.

The house was designed in 1959 for Catherine and William Cass and was part of an experiment with prefabricated building components. The parts were manufactured in Wisconsin and then transported to New York for on-site assembly.

The house takes its name from a distinctive tree on the property and reflects Wright's philosophy of weaving buildings into their natural surroundings. Visitors can sense this connection to nature throughout the rooms, where large windows frame views of the surrounding trees and hillside.

The property sits on a hillside, so the house spreads across two levels and may require some patience when navigating the different elevation changes. The cream-colored Masonite exterior walls with redwood trim are easy to spot and help locate the house in the neighborhood.

This is the only private house in New York City designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, making it a rare example of his work in the city. The building is part of a series of only eleven homes constructed using Wright's designs with prefabricated components.