Gerald Luss House

Architect Gerald Luss Adapts the Corporate-Design Genre to this Rural New York Home

Having left an indelible impact on Manhattan with his design of the interiors of the Time-Life Building, architect, sculptor and furniture designer Gerald Luss took to the woods, turning his sights to a more bucolic setting to create this holiday home in New York. 

Luss' influential company Design for Business was a leader in the mid-20th century of business interiors and furniture design, ushering in the "Mad Men" era of mid-century style. Built for his family in 1952, the home was his first residential project, and still includes many original pieces designed by Mr. Luss, including the Time-Life 12-foot couch and coffee table.

Located in an area famous for some other mid-century luminaries, including Frank Lloyd Wright, the home readjusts the postwar corporate‐design genre into a chic and livable contemporary home. Artfully stylized, the home’s sleek and simple design highlights the enduring appeal of mid-century design and contemporary ideals, which the owners have faithfully preserved.

Composed of concrete block, wood, stone and glass, the home is a time capsule of his unique talent. Situated on over two acres of woodlands, the two-story house is cantilevered out over the ground while coming into a landing at the entrance. 

A glass box houses the main living area, immersing you into the forest and is divided by a floor-to-ceiling stone hearth adjacent to the kitchen and dining area. A spiral stairway leads down to the four ground floor bedrooms and a media room with space for up to eight guests.

There is a sheltered dining and lounge terrace among the sloping green gardens and an additional sunny terrace with views of the forests. Guests have access to the community lake for swimming.

To read an interview with the owner, click here.

Around

Just under an hour north of New York City, the village of Ossining figures twice in architect Luss' legacy. Along with the Time-Life Building (home to the fictional firm in the hit TV show "Mad Men"), the town is also home to its fictional lead character.

Set along the Hudson River, the village’s many historic structures, especially along its Main Street, predate the Revolutionary War, with a charming mix of Victorian, and Colonial Revival. Having undergone a bit of a revitalization, there's a vibrant new cultural influx with a small-town feel. Check out the farmers’ market on Saturdays and the summer street fair. 

The Stillwater Lake is under a half-mile or short walk for great swimming and water sports, and the nearby Teatown Lake Reservation and nature preserve features over 15 miles of trails. The Briarcliff-Peekskill Trailway is a nature park that runs from Ossining north to Westchester County's Blue Mountain Reservation in Peekskill.

The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Usonia Historic District, an almost 100-acre national historic district, is located 10 miles south in Mount Pleasant and is a must-see for architecture buffs.

American industrial designer Russel Wright's Manitoga is a National Historic Landmark and Affiliate Site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and is located just 30 minutes north.  

Location

Ossining, New York. Nearest airports: Westchester County White Plains, HPN (approx. 15 miles), all NYC airports (approx. 50 miles) 

Best time to visit

Spring through fall