New Canaan -- Celanese House

Object Details

General: Celanese House was designed in 1958-59 by Edward Durell Stone as a commission from the Celanese Corporation of America. New Canaan contractor Theodore (Ted) de Freyne Hobbs had acquired the property in 1957 as a development venture and he bore all of the construction costs except for the architect's fee. Celanese furnished the materials free or at cost for publicity rights and national press coverage resulted following the home's completion (the property was sold to Frederick and Velma Willcox in 1960). The landscape architect for the project was James Fanning. Interior spaces opened to terraces screened by latticework to provide privacy. Surrounded by trees, a lawn at the rear of the property featured curving flagstone and fieldstone stairs and fieldstone walls. The terraces provided ample outdoor living space and featured hanging plants as well as more formally placed shrubs and other design features.; Persons and firms associated with the site include James Fanning (landscape architect,1959); Edward Durell Stone (architect, 1958-1959); Theodore de Freyne Hobbs (contractor, 1958-1959); Frederick and Velma Willcox (former owners, 1960-2005); and Celanese Corporation of America (corporate sponsor, 1958-1959).

Place: Celanese House (New Canaan, Connecticut); United States of America -- Connecticut -- Fairfield County -- New Canaan

See more items in: Maida Babson Adams American garden collection.; Maida Babson Adams American garden collection. / Series 1: Garden Images / Connecticut

Collection Citation: Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Maida Babson Adams American garden collection.

Collection Rights: Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Bibliography: Garden has been featured in "The House With the Built-in Sky," House & Garden, October 1959, pp. 140-153. Garden has been featured in Cynthia Kellogg, "House of High Lights," The New York Times Magazine, September 13, 1959, pp. 122-123. Garden has been featured in Harriet Morrison, "Built to Express America," Today's Living, September 13, 1959, pp. 6-7.

Scope and Contents: The folder includes worksheets, copies of articles about the property, and additional information about the house and garden.

Collection Restrictions: Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Related Materials: Celanese House related holdings consist of 1 folder (3 photographic prints; 17 safety film negatives)