Villa Maria (Long Island)
Villa Maria | |
---|---|
Former names | Red Gables, Green Gables |
General information | |
Type | Private Residence |
Architectural style | Eclectic |
Location | Water Mill, New York |
Address | 615 Montauk Highway |
Coordinates | 40°54′32″N 72°21′16″W / 40.908984°N 72.354444°W |
Construction started | 1887 |
Completed | 1887? |
Renovated | 1919 |
Owner | Luiz Zamorano Jr. |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | George Skidmore |
Renovating team | |
Architect(s) | Frank Freeman |
Other designers | Andre Tchelistcheff Architects (2009 Restoration) |
Villa Maria is an estate in Water Mill, New York. Built as a private residence in 1887, the villa itself was extensively remodelled by Brooklyn-based architect Frank Freeman in 1919. It later became a convent and spirituality center, before recently becoming a private residence once again. The building is considered a Long Island landmark.
History
Villa Maria was originally built in 1887 as a "rambling,
In the late 1890s, the building was sold to Dr. Edward L. Keyes, a prominent New York
In 1909, Keyes sold the estate to New York businessman
On August 17, 1929, Red Gables was auctioned to Courtland Palmer of Manhattan for $100,000. It was then passed on to actress, Irene Coleman, whose stage name was Ann Murdagh. She then sold the estate to the Sisters of the Order of St. Dominic, a
Another interesting fact about this property is that President Theodore Roosevelt's (1858–1919) favorite horse, "General Ruxton", is buried on the grounds. This is the same bronze horse he is featured sitting on outside the American Museum of Natural History in New York, NY.
In "2001 and 2002, Villa Maria hosted the Hampton Designer Showcase, an event that raise money for remedial work on the facilities";[1] unfortunately these events did not raise enough to sustain the large property and Villa Maria was put up for sale again in the Spring of 2005, when it was sold to Nine West founder shoe manufacturer Vincent Camuto and his wife Louise for $35 million.[5] The Camutos, with Andre Tchelistcheff Architects, embarked on a major restoration in 2007, which included adding a loggia leading to a carriage house, a pool and pool house, a walled outdoor fountain garden, and renovation of the gate house. In addition, the grounds were completely rehabilitated by Edmund Hollander Landscape Architects with a rose garden, new dock, and trees, hedges, and fencing along the Montauk Highway.
Description
Villa Maria is an eclectic-style building, incorporating elements of Beaux-Arts, Neoclassical and Colonial Revival design that sits on nearly 15 acres of land. It has been described as having "an arresting asymmetrical facade and complex roof lines breaking out into a profusion of windows and dormers". The main entrance is dominated by a grand Colonial-style portico, supported on four tall columns which rise to the height of the second floor.[4] The walls are finished in stucco that looks like limestone.
The interior features a "huge" rotunda, rising to a dome-capped ceiling.[3] The 27,000 square footbuilding includes 9 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, a ballroom and institutional kitchen. The ballroom is now a grand living room. The original teak floor from the first renovation in 1905 is still in the living room. Its wide beams are connected by bow tie construction so the entire floor is held together without a nail. The floor was taken from one of the ships in Edward In addition to the main building, the estate also includes three cottages.[6] The estate, which is set between Mill Creek and Mecox Bay, includes 1,100 feet (340 m) of waterfront.[5] The villa in its entirety has been described as a "stunning sight" and is said to be "perhaps Water Mill's best-known landmark."[7]
References
- ^ a b c d Lawrance, Gary; Surchin, Anne (2007). Houses of the Hamptons 1880-1930. Acanthus Press. pp. 60–67.
- ^ "PHOTOGRAPHS - REDUCED COPIES OF MEASURED DRAWINGS - WRITTEN HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE DATA" (PDF). Retrieved 2023-12-25.
- ^ a b c d Cummings, Mary (2004-08-10). "Adaptive Reuse in Three Acts". Hamptons.com. Archived from the original on 2009-06-30.
- ^ a b Baker et al.
- ^ a b Cotsalas, Valerie (2005-08-07). "Water Mill: Villa Maria Center Is Sold for $35 Million". The New York Times.
- ^ Young, Beth (2008-07-17). "Villa Maria back on the market". 27east. Archived from the original on 2016-03-13.
- ^ Brinton, Scott (1997-01-12). "Water Mill's No Run-of-the-Mill Town". Newsday.
Bibliography
- Baker, Anthony; MacKay, Robert B.; Traynor, Carol A.; Gill, Brendan: (1997): Long Island Country Houses and Their Architects, 1860-1940, W. W. Norton & Co., ISBN 978-0-393-03856-9.