marcel breuer's iconic geller house on long island is demolished

overnight demolition of marcel breuer’s first binuclear house

in november 1944, hungarian modernist architect marcel breuer was commissioned to design the geller house in lawrence, long island. this year on january 25th and after almost 60 years of its realization, the iconic house has been demolished ‘in the dead of night’ as the current owners requested a larger dwelling with a tennis court.

the house was the first built by breuer integrating his revolutionary concept of the ‘binuclear’ house, where living and sleeping areas were split into two wings, bridged by a central hallway. after its completion, it was widely published in various magazines in the united states and in europe, and it was the winning design in a competition sponsored by progressive architecture back in 1947.

‘progressive architecture’, february 1947

all images by docomomo US unless stated otherwise

the end of the mid-century geller house, despite its international significance

the structure showcased breuer’s talent and became the inspiration for a generation of architects. the geller house was conceived to meet the modern needs of the american family in the years following the second world war. the dwelling topped by a butterfly roof was presented in avant-garde aesthetics outfitted with furniture designed by breuer himself. the architect created custom built-in cabinets, tables, and three basic chair types, including a lounge chair, a dining chair, and a stacking chair. its exterior was clad in vertical cedar siding, penetrated by large expanses of floor-to-ceiling windows. an extended, thin rectangle plan consisted of the living and dining rooms, along with the kitchen, utility, and maid’s room. meanwhile, the other wing accommodated the bedrooms and children’s playrooms, while an entrance hall connected the two volumes.

the floor plan remained intact through the years, although it has changed hands several times. as it is said, the building was likely eligible for the national registers of historic places. also, it had been identified as a historical landmark by the society for the preservation of long island antiquities in 1981. however, the classic mid-century house was knocked down to combine two plots and form a tennis court, as its owners required.

southeast elevation

image by marcel breuer

stated by officials, the owners followed all local rules, without violating any laws. regardless, this loss testifies that lax landmarking of building rules risking modernist architecture survival.

docomomo US — a non-profit organization dedicated to the documentation and conservation of buildings, sites, and neighborhoods of the modern movement — attempted to protect the house from demolition after reports that its owners intended to ruin the property. after the destruction of the house, docomomo US stated that ‘ they will continue to encourage those involved with the project to take another look at the house and protect a nationally important work of modern residential architecture designed by one of the world’s most prominent architects of the post-war era.’