Skip to main content

Marcel Breuer’s Stillman Cottage Is Up For Grabs

Architecture enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting December 11. Why? Because that is when Bauhaus architect and designer Marcel Breuer’s Rufus Stillman Cottage will hit the auction block. It’s estimated that the 2,400 square foot home sitting on ten acres in Connecticut will easily sell for over $2 million. For lovers of amazing architecture, this is a chance to own a spectacularly designed home with a rich history.

You may not know the name Marcel Breuer, but you know his designs. The inventor of everything from the cantilevered chair to the concept of the butterfly house (a home laid out in two wings from a central entry area), Breuer’s impact on design and architecture can still be felt to this day.

Wright 20 Auctions

One of the very first students to attend Bauhaus, Breuer studied under art director Walter Gropius in the 1920s. It was Gropius who encouraged Breuer to focus on interiors and home design. The result was a prolific career that included over fifty homes and apartments designed by Breuer from 1926 until his death in 1981. One of his favorite clients, and closest friends, was Rufus Stillman, who commissioned the architect to create over twenty residential and commercial projects.

Recommended Videos

Designed and built between 1973 and 1974, the Stillman Cottage is located on a hill overlooking Naugatuck Valley in Litchfield, Connecticut. The property originally consisted of over 100 acres and included two other homes owned by Stillman which were also designed by Breuer. The other homes have since been sold, but the cottage is surrounded by a 70-acre land trust. Whoever wins the auction will have access to this trust, which includes a series of trails that connect the other homes.

Intended to be a vacation cabin, the Stillman Cottage is a prime example of Breuer’s philosophy of economic design and relating the structure to the surrounding landscape. While the cottage was designed in the 1970s, it was based on his famous Wellfleet Cottages originally created in the 1940s. Rufus wanted an austere seasonal cabin and that’s what he got with Stillman Cottage.

Originally, the cabin had no electricity and the only water source was a cold-water well. While modern amenities have been added on (including hot water!), the Stillman Cottage retains much of the original style implemented by Breuer.

Wright 20 Auctions

Set on stilts to provide better views of the valley, the cottage consists of two structures. The main part of the home holds an open-plan kitchen (updated with modern appliances) and dining room, two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a screened-in porch that cantilevers over the land. The other part of the home is an addition that was based on designs used by Breuer in his Wellfleet Cottages. This addition houses a foyer, great room, master suite, and two more screened-in porches. A breezeway connects the two segments of the home.

Inside, the cottage is decked out in the simplistic Bauhaus look, complemented by an array of mid-century modern furnishings. White walls and ceilings are accented by touches of natural wood. Windows are carefully placed to frame views of the valley. Outside, the home is clad in wood siding, a reflection of the trees that surround the property. By setting the home on stilts, the impact on the land is minimized while creating the sensation that the cottage is floating.

Interested in putting in a bid? Stillman Cottage is being sold by Wright in the Important Design auction on Tuesday, December 11.

Liking the look of Bauhaus design? Do you also own a dog? If so, you might want to get Fido his own Bow Wow Bauhaus Dog House. See this stunning canine design here.

Kelsey Machado
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kelsey is a professional interior designer with over a decade of experience in the design field. With a passion for…
Netflix’s new documentary series now has a 100% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes
The miniseries is just three hours long.
Osama bin Ladin in American Manhunt

Netflix puts out tons of new content every week, and while some of it is critically beloved, other things get panned or don't get much critical attention at all. One of the streamer's new shows this May, though, has debuted with a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes.

American Manhunt: Osama bin Ladin is a documentary series that tells the story of the hunt for Osama bin Ladin the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attack. Although he was known in the years before 9/11, bin Ladin became U.S. intelligence's top target in the aftermath of the attacks, and it took nearly 10 years to track him down.

Read more
Austin Butler and Jeremy Allen White are set to face off in A24’s Enemies
The movie follows a detective and contract killer who play a game of cat and mouse.
Austin Butler in Masters of the Air.

A24 definitely knows how that one surefire way to drum up interest in its movies is to cast actors who are red hot in the industry. Now, reports suggests that the studio has done just that with Enemies, which will star Jeremy Allen White and Austin Butler as, you guessed it, enemies.

The film is described as a crime saga and comes from director Henry Dunham. The film's official synopsis says that it follows “a relentless detective and an infamous contract killer" who "collide in a deadly game of cat and mouse.” Production on the project is slated to begin this summer in Chicago.

Read more
Nobody 2: Everything we know so far
Bob Odenkirk is back for another action adventure
Bob Odenkirk in Nobody 2

Before Bob Odenkirk turned in a seminal performance of TV's prestige era playing Jimmy McGill and Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, he was most known for his comedy chops. People were surprised to see him step out of his comfort zone in the world of drama television, but it helped usher in a new reputation for the veteran, everyman star.

Odenkirk got to play an action hero in 2021's Nobody, and the sequel is finally on the way. Nobody 2 might just be one of the best movies of the summer. Here is everything we know about it so far, from the cast to the trailer and the release date.
Is there a trailer for Nobody 2?
Nobody 2 | Official Trailer

Read more