From forgotten ruin to the setting of our August catalog.

Todd Goddard and Andrew Mandolene were looking for a mid-century home to restore, but when they first saw this structure, which had water dripping through ceiling fixtures and a partially collapsed roof, they were apprehensive. They tracked down the architect, Arthur Witthoefft, who built this home in 1957 and lived in it for 32 years.

Witthoefft was heartbroken to hear about the neglect, but he assured the men that the damage wasn’t that bad. “You have a welded steel frame built on solid rock,” Witthoefft remembers telling them. “You’re fine.” Two years later, Goddard and Mandolene complete their meticulous restoration – they insisted on using original materials – and the home was recently added to the National and New York State Registers of Historic Places. Witthoefft, 92, and still practicing, was on hand for the celebration. “It’s beautiful,” he said. 

Architect Arthur Witthoefft pictured inside the Armonk, NY home he designed in 1957.

In 1989, the Witthoeffts sold their beloved home and moved to Florida. The property then went through a series of owners, and this is how it looked when Mandolene and Goddard arrived.

On a rainy day in May, we arrived with two trucks of furniture to photograph our August catalog in this incredible home.

The DWR crew setting up a shot for our August catalog.

See our August catalog.

Comments

[Chris Nguyen]

I was actually searching though my Dwell archive last night looking for this home. What an incredibly smart and well done renovation. I am definitely inspired to go out and save a flat-roof modern from the wrecking ball.

[k. cederholm]

Does anyone have any information regarding the wonderful fabric cat hanging on the wall behind the chair on page 30 of this catalogue.
Thanks

[Gari Hatch]

This is an amazing house by an amazing architect. Kudos to DWR for giving it a retrospective exposure.

[Bernie nagler]

Can you put me on your mailing list to receive printed catalogs? Contact me by email for my address. Thanks

[john waddy]

that house is wonderful!!!!!
I have some freinds in birmingham alabama that
have done an incredible resoration on a similar flat roofed mid century modern home, that would compete with it nail for nail, weld for weld,,,it could be the next location shoot...

[Vickie Hodnett]

I love the rustic and yet modern view of the house. The architect clearly had a vision that has withstood the test of time.

[Ljupka Bilenjkij]

@Chris Nguyen,
Please help us save the Kronish House, the last Richard Neutra-designed house in Beverly Hills, from demolition on October 10, 2011.
After some months on the market, where the original listing characterized the property as a ‘tear down’ and no mention of the Neutra design, the owners had decided to tear the structure down and sell as an empty property of land.
If you can help, or know someone who could, please let us know:

http://neutra.org/kronish.html
http://www.facebook.com/#!/savethekronishhouse
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-neutras-kronish-house/

[Gail M. Wheaton]

Does anyone have any information regarding the wonderful fabric cat hanging on the wall behind the chair on page 30 of this catalogue? Please!!!.
Thanks

Posted by: G. Wheaton| September 03, 2011 at 10:05 AM

[DWR]

Good morning. We'll email the homeowner and ask for information about the fabric cat. -DWR

[structural engineering services]

wow! I really love the place.

It is one of the best landscapes I've ever seen. and the interiors really look so elegant.

[Pat McCallum]

This house reminds me of so many of the flat roof homes in my neighborhood, Hollin Hills, Va. (in fact I live in one). There appears to be a resurgence of interest in mid-century modern and houses here are getting bought up and renovated on a regular basis. The community hopes to host a construction tour of one of these renovations - allowing phases of the construction to be availabe for viewing. Pat