The Crimson Beech

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Catherine and William Cass House
("The Crimson Beech")
Crimson Beech Partial Front View.jpg
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General information
TypeHouse
Architectural style Usonian
Location48 Manor Court, Staten Island, New York City, New York
Coordinates 40°34′30″N74°08′32″W / 40.575131°N 74.142319°W / 40.575131; -74.142319
Construction started1959
Design and construction
Architect(s) Frank Lloyd Wright
DesignatedAugust 14, 1990
Reference no.1773

The Crimson Beech (also known as the Cass House) is a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright at 48 Manor Court in the Lighthouse Hill neighborhood of Staten Island in New York City. [1] Its original owners, Catherine and William Cass, had it manufactured by Marshall Erdman in kit form in Madison, Wisconsin and shipped to Staten Island where it was erected in 1959. [2] It is the only residence designed by Wright in New York City and one of eleven Marshall Erdman Prefab Houses that were built. [3] The particular model is known as the Prefab #1.

The house features a combined kitchen and family room, a sunken living room with a cathedral ceiling, and a gallery that leads to four bedrooms. [4] All interior walls are paneled in Philippine mahogany, with raised horizontal bands set about a foot apart. [4]

The house is a long and low L shape, with wide hip roofs. [2] The exterior, red brick and largely clad in cream-colored Masonite, is similarly striped with redwood battens that emphasize the low-slung lines. The front of the house has one story, while the rear, because of the sloping site, has two. [4] The roof is made of terne. [4]

At the time of construction, the components of the house cost $20,000 and assembly cost a further $35,000. [4] The house was declared a landmark in August 1990 [1] and the original owners resided there until 1999 when it was sold. It remains in private hands. [3]

See also

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Cass House may refer to:

References

  1. 1 2 William and Catherine Cass House, The Crimson Beech (PDF) (Report). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. August 14, 1990. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  2. 1 2 Bernstein, Fred A. (December 18, 2005). "Living With Frank Lloyd Wright". The New York Times. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  3. 1 2 Hall, Trish (October 24, 1999). "Habitats/Lighthouse Hill, Staten Island; A Landmark 1959 Home With All the Wright Stuff". The New York Times. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Kahn, Eve M. (March 24, 1988). "One Wright Dream on Staten Island". The New York Times. Retrieved May 25, 2010.