Four Winds
Perched on a secluded hilltop near the Long Island Sound, oriented to take advantage of a southern exposure and summer breezes, this elegant stone and wood colonial stands on a sheltered lot among mature trees and terraced lawns.
The original house was in need of modernization and expansion to suit the needs of a growing young family. New Steel windows were installed and the interiors re-imagined in the spirit of the original. A large addition brought modern amenities including an expansive new kitchen and conservatory dining area, large family room, primary and guest suites, and a grand stair within the center of the house.
Much of the original house was preserved and the unique stone and concrete structure remains. The result is a bespoke residence with many unique details and moments that enhance yet fully respect the unique character of the original stone house. The resultant design is one that thoughtfully blends the new with the old in an elegant and unified way.
Designed by Calvin Kiesling and built by the famed architect and stone mason Frazier Foreman Peters in 1931 using an innovative technique known as "Flagg Masonry Construction." This process involves masons laying the exterior stones in a "Cob Web" or "Hand Laid" pattern each spaced at least one inch from the tother within a wood form. The stones were held to the exterior with wood sticks within the wood form and then filled with concrete. This was done in 2-foot lifts until the walls reached the desired height.
"You employ stone, wood and concrete, and with these materials you build houses and palaces. That is construction. Ingenuity is at work. But suddenly you touch my heart, you do me good, I am happy and I say: This is beautiful. That is architecture. Art enters in."
Le Corbusier
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