Mid-century modern architecture is updated for a contemporary Japanese lifestyle in this restoration and renovation of the historic William Landsberg home. The 1951 house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Landsberg, who studied at Harvard University with Marcel Breuer and later worked for him before establishing his own architecture practice, gained regional fame for his Bauhaus-inspired designs. He built the Port Washington house for himself and his family.
The new owners and SMA entered the design process with deep respect and admiration for the house's modernist style and hillside setting, while also wanting to make it comfortable for a young family used to living in a Japanese home. The "floating" rectangular-box structure and simple lines of the house were aesthetically suited to the clients' design sensibilities and wish list, which included a teppanyaki-cooking island in a kitchen that opened to the living room; a narrow engawa-like deck along the back of the house; a primary bathroom with a deep ofuro-type soaking tub; a tatami guest room; and a patio big enough to play ping pong. In the kitchen, SMA worked closely with Henrybuilt to seamlessly integrate contemporary components which included Papaya-colored high pressure laminates, walnut paneling, mid-century-inspired custom pulls and a meticulously-restored wall clock. Technological upgrades emphasizing sustainability brought the house into the 21st century.
Year Completed: 1951 (Landsberg), 2016 (SMA)
SMA Team: Stephen Moser, principal ; Nicole Anderson, project manager
Contractor: Golden Eye Construction
Structural Engineer: Blue Sky Design, Inc.
Kitchen: Henrybuilt
Photography: Michael Biondo
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