A. Everett Austin House, National Historic Landmark in Hartford, US
The A. Everett Austin House is a narrow, elongated private residence on the grounds of the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Connecticut. Its facade features Ionic pilasters and neoclassical ornaments, while the two floors inside follow completely different design approaches.
The house was built in 1930 for Arthur Everett Austin Jr., who was then director of the Wadsworth Atheneum. He and his family lived there until 1944, when he left Hartford to take a position in Florida.
The ground floor features silk-covered walls and gilded details that recall European aristocratic interiors from the 1700s. The upper floor shifts entirely to an open, minimal look that shows how the owner followed new design ideas coming from Europe at the time.
The house is reached through the Wadsworth Atheneum, as it stands on the museum's property. Tours are not offered every day, so it is worth checking ahead and booking a spot before you arrive.
The house was modeled on 16th-century Venetian villas, yet it was built on a lot so narrow that the design had to be stretched lengthways to fit. This gap between the European model and the actual plot gives the building proportions that feel unusual from the street.
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