Sun Terrace facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Sun Terrace
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Sun Terrace, 1978
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Stub Hollow Rd., New Hartford, Connecticut |
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| Area | 7.9 acres (3.2 ha) |
| Built | 1929 |
| Architect | Lescaze, William E. |
| Architectural style | International Style |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002849 |
| Added to NRHP | December 20, 1978 |
Sun Terrace, also called the Field House, is a very old and important house in New Hartford, Connecticut. It was designed in 1929 for a member of the famous Vanderbilt family and finished in 1932. This house was the first big success for the architect William Lescaze in designing homes. It's also known as the first country house in the United States built in the unique International Style of architecture. Because of its special history and design, Sun Terrace was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
What is Sun Terrace?
Sun Terrace is found in a quiet, natural area in New Hartford. It sits on top of a wooded hill, giving it amazing views of the land around it. The house is built with a strong steel frame and covered with a smooth cement finish.
Unique Design Features
The house has a flat roof and parts that stick out, like balconies, without needing support from below. It also has a cool curved wall. The windows are often grouped together, even wrapping around corners, which was very modern for its time. You won't see a lot of fancy decorations on the outside, as the International Style focuses on simple, clean lines.
- Rooftop Terrace: A spiral staircase lets you go from the ground up to a terrace on the roof.
- Inside the House: Inside, there's a special curved fireplace made of soapstone. The house also used a lot of fluorescent lighting, which was a very new technology when it was built.
Who Built Sun Terrace?
The house was designed by William Lescaze, an architect from Switzerland. He was asked to design it in 1929 by Frederick Vanderbilt Field. Frederick was part of the very wealthy Vanderbilt family, who made a lot of money from railroads. However, Frederick had different political ideas than his family, so he didn't get any money from their fortune.
The International Style
At the same time Lescaze was working on Sun Terrace, he was also designing the PSFS Building. This was the first skyscraper in the United States built in the International Style. When Sun Terrace was finished, it became the very first country house designed in this modern style. Only one other home, the Lovell House by Richard Neutra, was built in this style before it. The International Style is known for:
- Simple, clean shapes
- Flat roofs
- Large windows
- No extra decorations
- Focus on function and open spaces
