Somewhere between the cantilevered wood and steel additions and walls of windows that make up this one-of-a-kind Princeton home, there was an ordinary 1970s home.
It was renovated and expanded 20 years ago in a design created by Garrison Architects, of Brooklyn, which won the firm one of the most prestigious awards in the architecture industry -- the Chicago Atheneum American Architecture Award.
The incredibly unique four bedroom, four full and one half bathroom home, set on 9.5 acres, is for sale for $3,490,000.
“The Princeton market is starved for this kind of inventory,” said Judson R. Henderson of Callaway Henderson Sotheby’s International Realty, the listing agent.
“It’s very much a traditional, colonial kind of town from an architectural stand point,” he said, “so I do think there’s pent-up demand for what is modern.”
The redesign added four key elements to the home, he said -- glass, wood, stone and metal.
“It’s got Frank Lloyd Wright elements of being part of the environment,” he said. “The outdoors is completely brought into the house.”
The house has glass insets in the roof, floor-to-ceiling windows and translucent partitions that disperse the natural light. It also has sustainability features because of its orientation, energy efficiency, material choices and passive ventilation, according to Garrison Architects.
You enter the home through a glass-walled foyer and head up a few steps to find the great room, which has a fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows, to the right. Straight ahead are the kitchen, dining room, living room, a half bathroom and a study.
All four bedrooms, two of which are en suite, are on the second floor. The massive primary bedroom has two walk-in closets.
The basement level has a family room, a three-car garage, a media room, a wine cellar, a utility room, the fourth full bathroom and storage.
“When you’re inside, you can’t tell what’s new and what’s original,” Henderson said. “It’s seamless.”
The home sits on more than 9 acres of wooded property that has a walking trail around the perimeter, a fire pit, a gazebo and it backs to the TPC Jasna Polana golf course. It’s also about three miles from downtown Princeton.
It’s been on the market for about three weeks and has gotten a lot of interest from locals and non-locals, including repeat showings.
“There are people who are just big fans of modern architecture and the house will dictate where they live,” he said. “I don’t think it will be [on the market] much longer.”
The home was expanded and renovated 20 years ago.Robert Manella of of Callaway Henderson Sotheby's International Realty
The foyer, like many rooms in the contemporary home, has a wall of windows.Robert Manella of of Callaway Henderson Sotheby's International Realty
The great room has built-in bookshelves and a fireplace.Robert Manella of of Callaway Henderson Sotheby's International Realty
The kitchen also has room for a dining table.Robert Manella of of Callaway Henderson Sotheby's International Realty
The dining room is open to a sunken living room.Robert Manella of of Callaway Henderson Sotheby's International Realty
There are four bedrooms.Robert Manella of of Callaway Henderson Sotheby's International Realty
There are four full and one half bathroom.Robert Manella of of Callaway Henderson Sotheby's International Realty
The property has a fire pit, a gazebo and a walking trail around the perimeter.Robert Manella of of Callaway Henderson Sotheby's International Realty
It sits on a 9.5 acre, gated lot that backs to a golf course.Robert Manella of of Callaway Henderson Sotheby's International Realty
Are you an agent, buyer or seller who is active in this changing market? Do you have tips about New Jersey’s real estate market? Unusual listings? Let us know.
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Stories by Allison Pries
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Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com.