Combining mid-century industrialism, Bauhaus design and contemporary updates, the former “Snyder House” is a modernist gem waiting for a discerning new owner. Built in 1952 by Bauhaus-trained architect Bertrand Goldberg for John Synder, a railway executive, pieces of the modular house were fabricated in Chicago, shipped east and assembled on the site overlooking West Neck Harbor.
“It has a fabled history … very futuristic, ahead of its time and incredibly unique,” said listing agent Nicholas Brown of Town & Country Real Estate.
Now renamed “Swept Away,” the house was completely renovated in 2002 by its current owners, who kept the original footprint and signature stonework, including a massive eight-flue fireplace.
At just over 6,000 square feet, the one-story home features two long wings that flank a gravel courtyard leading to the swimming pool. Within the wings are four bedrooms ranging from 150 to 250 square feet, two bathrooms, a 228-square-foot den and a room currently used for exercise. The nearly 400-square-foot master bedroom, also in this wing, features a walk-in-closet and a spa bathroom with steam shower and a marble tub.
Egress to and from the sleeping wings is through a sleek dining room with bamboo floors, custom modular shelving and dramatic views out both sides: At this point, “one can see straight through the house,” Brown said, noting that floor-to-ceiling windows throughout maximize the southern panoramic views.
Anchoring the 1,683-square-foot open living room is the original two-sided fireplace. While it still burns wood, the fireplace has been modified to accommodate partial or full gas operation. The original flagstone floor was replaced with slate and is radiant-heated. The renovated ceiling of mahogany strips is an echo of the house’s original mahogany plywood cladding.
The living room naturally flows into the kitchen outfitted with rosewood cabinets, butcher-block and slate counters. On the other side of the kitchen is a one-bedroom suite with its own entrance.
Design elements throughout the house echo its surroundings: natural wood finishings, grass-cloth wall coverings and the original massive stone walls that were left intact. The current owners—both artists—added whimsical custom-painted accent walls by the artist John-Paul Philippe in the bathrooms.
Sited on 3.4 acres, the exterior grounds, along 410 feet of private waterfront, feature numerous seating and dining areas, native flower beds, fruit trees and raised vegetable beds protected by deer fencing, and a 74-foot insulated swimming pool usable in three seasons. The unusually long 250-foot dock was grandfathered in: In the original house design it was under a cantilevered Unishelter, the signature flourish of the designer and then-owner.
This modernist masterpiece is listed at $13,950,000. The complete listing is here.