Showing posts with label James Evans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label James Evans. Show all posts

Monday, February 15, 2016

Modern Architecture Tour in New Canaan



Architect James Evans discussing the Evans House with future architects from Roger Williams University

Last week I hosted 3 architects from Aamodt Plumb along with 15 students from Roger Williams University as we took a tour of 4 of New Canaan's best midcentury Modern houses. We saw the Philip Johnson Boissonas House of 1958 and learned what makes it unique among Johnson's commissions in town. Philip Johnson's confidant and protege Marty Skreleunas 

built a fire and made us feel right at home in the Noyes House. Architect James Evans gave his personal tour of the Evans House with it's exceptional parabolic roof. Jenny Xie, a reporter from Curbed Magazine attended the tour and honored the Evans House by making it Curbed's House of the Day.

Finally, we ended our tour at the famous Willis Mills House. The architects took note of many of the fine craftsmanlike custom details such as how the steps form acute angles rather than the standard risers of 90 degrees.



Thursday, January 21, 2016

New Canaan Market January 2016

Fellow Real Estate fans,

China and oil grabbed all of the financial headlines this month. What about the Fairfield County real estate market? Glad you asked. Public Open Houses are getting traffic. Pendings are up (17 versus 11 in the last 30 days) This is what is happening in the market in our area:   
  • Area Sales: We told you Stamford, Darien, Wilton, Norwalk, Westport, Weston and Ridgefield collectively show the number of sales is up 4.54% and $ volume up 3.3%.  When you take out Westport and Ridgefield and add Greenwich the county sales are up 9.3% and dollar volume down 3.1% 
  • New Canaan market: 243 house sales was the same as last year. This is 21 houses above our 10 year average of 222 single family home sales.
  • New Canaan Inventory:  We begin the year with 188 houses, up 47 houses and 33.3% year over year. Pretty soon we will stop talking about last year and accept that a range of 188-340 is the new normal 
  • Condos:  Much attention has been placed on the decrease in sales: down 37.7% for the year. But as we said last month 2014 was exceptional and a statistical aberration. We came in at the new normal level for sales (38 sales vs. the 9 year median of 45) and inventory (40 active vs the 9 year median of 47). 
  • Pendings: Pendings are up in New Canaan houses (16 vs. 12 at year end) & down for condos (2 vs 5).  
Interest rates will rise this Spring and the psychological impact cannot be overestimated. A rising tide could impart a newfound sense of urgency to both buyers and sellers. Sellers may accept the diminished buying power and borrowing power of buyers. Lookers,  fearing a market slipping away from them, may become buyers. We have the inventory; tThis Spring should see more deals at all levels.  

Below is a link to our January Market Report, which includes detailed information on the market this past year.  If you would like to discuss the report, or if you have any other questions, feel free to contact us at 203-247-4700 (JE) or 203-247-5999 (SE)  

Best regards,          

John and Susan
 
If you want a condo that's in the downtown this is the one. High ceilings. Beautiful wood floors. Gardens. Owner is highly motivated to make a deal this winter. Bring it.


A beautiful brick end unit at Pride's Crossing means twice as many windows, double the light. The garage is a few steps from the patio. The basement is finished.





One of the few examples under $1.5 on the West side, this immaculate house offers privacy, a play yard and a view of the river.






A 2014 built condo, top of the line kitchen, 2 garages, Geothermal heating & cooling, with views of a forest and pond with flat sidewalks into town.
 
NEW construction along Mead Park.  The front house has a first floor master. The rear house borders the park. 

Very private townhouse in the newer portion of Canaan Close features 3 large bedrooms (with ensuite baths) and 6 private balconies or decks overlooking the 5 Mile River




44 Benedict Hill - $1,799,000  The Evans House
From 1960, one of the most striking and pure examples of midcentury modern architecture in the world, period. Put this one on your bucket list.  Now rented for 2016/2017. See the video of architect James Evans discussing it here.




Yes, its an important midcentury modern. But, it's an absolutely livable and fun modern house with the finest materials, a gourmet kitchen, pool and attached garage. And, at this price you simply cannot find a better modern.



You say you want charm and character from the 1930's, but updated. You want a "football field" flat lawn. And, you'd like to live on Ponus. This is the house for you. See the video of 1094 Ponus's sunset views here.
 



Maybe the best poolside entertaining in New Canaan. Consider it has the grandest soaring front foyer. This is an important house, showing like new, not to be missed.



1083 Smith Ridge - $4.200,000  Everybody who enters this house says "Wow " Four levels of beautifully finished space & high ceilings, includes a gourmet eat-in kitchen, adjoining family room & lower level spa opening to the outdoor pool. A paneled library, with fireplace, terrace & alcove is a godsend. See the video of 1083 Smith Ridge.


 
 
The quintessential family compound on the banks of the Five Mile River includes a gracious main house with river views, a separate studio/office, a guest house and the expertly designed, award-winning party barn. The peaceful, 2.6 acre property is bordered by 2.4 acres of Land Trust and the river. See the video of 227 Lambert Road here.
 

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Gone Again: Midcentury Modern with the Hyperbolic Paraboloid Has Been Rented, Coming off the Market

That's right, you let the opportunity slip through your fingers once again.

The James Evans house of 1960 with its famous Hyperbolic Paraboloid roof has been rented for the next 18 months and is coming off the market later this month. I've attached several photos of the house, taken from several different angles and during different seasons to show off some of the outstanding features and tell the story of this house one more time:







John Engel and James Evans, Spring 2015, addressing a group of Belgian architects 





Showing off the colors of Autumn

These turnbuckles, similar to what you might find on a ship, counter the lateral forces of the roof.
Close-up of the turnbuckles which support the house on the lower level.
Architect James Evans with a group of Belgian architects.

James Evans points at the famous roof and describes how it came to be










Tuesday, June 2, 2015

1958 Porsche at the Greenwich Car Show and Concours d'Elegance this Weekend, and some of my favorite pictures of that car...

Mead Park


Boissonas House of 1958

Philip Johnson


blending in with the bricks

even the engine is pretty, everything in its place


Mead Park Photo Shoot for the Catalog




Saying Goodbye to the Car in Greenwich

227 Lambert Road

http://www.lambertbarn.com
at the James Evans house, 1960

a hyperbolic paraboloid roof in the background


Philip Johnson's Wiley Speculative House


Bonham's Auction in Greenwich


 
Porsche 1958 and 1965