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Architecture

A Marcel Breuer–Designed Masterpiece Comes on the Market for $4.2 Million

The Bauhaus-style hilltop estate in Croton-on-Hudson was built for artist Vera Neumann

By Jill Sieracki
Modern house with vibrant red and blue accents, surrounded by a lush green lawn and stone wall in a serene natural setting.
Built in 1953 by renowned architect Marcel Breuer, this 4,064-square-foot residence encapsulates the best of Bauhaus design with clean lines and bold pops of color. Photo: © Undine Pröhl, courtesy of William Pitt • Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty

To many, waterfront living means an ocean-facing manse or a picturesque retreat just steps from a placid lake. However, this new-to-market six-bedroom home literally takes water views to new heights by offering a sweeping vista of the Hudson River from its 3.5-acre hilltop perch.

Modern living room with bold red sofa, unique blue chair, glass doors opening to scenic lake and mountain view.
Boldly colored furnishings echo the pops of primary shades that accent the home’s exterior. Photo: Tim Lenz, courtesy of William Pitt • Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty

Built in 1953 by renowned architect Marcel Breuer, the 4,064-square-foot residence encapsulates the best of Bauhaus design with clean lines and bold pops of color. It was crafted for artist Vera Neumann—whose colorful paintings were reimagined as whimsical scarves, each marked with her signature ladybug—and her husband, George. Nicknamed “Breuer on the Hudson,” this stone home was one of the Hungarian-born architect’s proudest achievements and was featured on the cover of his 1955 monograph, Sun and Shadow.

Also dubbed the “Neumann House,” the single-story residence was built to make the most of its majestic location, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows on two sides and a louvered courtyard that offers breathtaking views to the east. Sinuous stone walls echo the shape of the land, while a covered breezeway links to a four-bedroom guesthouse above.

Modern living room with wooden ceiling, gray furniture, stone floor, and a lit brick fireplace, offering a cozy atmosphere.
This 1953 Marcel Breuer–designed home underwent a 4.5-year restoration by its current owners, who are devotees of the famed architect’s style. Photo: © Undine Pröhl, courtesy of William Pitt • Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty

Neumann commissioned Breuer to create not just her home, but also her factory and showrooms. In the 1970s, she enlisted him to update the Neumann House’s main building and guesthouse, which equally embraced the architect’s and client’s desire for indoor-outdoor living.

The current owners, devotees of Breuer’s style, spent more than four years reviving the home with modern conveniences while staying true to the original vision. In 2019 it won an Excellence in Historical Restoration award from the Preservation League of New York State. Complete with four baths, indoor and outdoor pools, and slate flooring, as well as Honduran cypress ceilings and matching custom built-in furnishings, this is a remarkably preserved example of architectural history.

Discover more of the estate, located just an hour north of New York in picturesque Croton-on-Hudson.

Modern living room with wooden furniture, large windows, and ocean view.
Patterned slate floors seamlessly blend into the outdoor area courtesy of Breuer’s custom-designed frameless sliding glass. Photo: © Undine Pröhl, courtesy of William Pitt • Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty
Modern living room with stone floor, stylish furniture, large glass windows, and scenic view of a lake and mountains.
Hand-hewn stone walls fringe patios and other outdoor spaces. Photo: © Undine Pröhl, courtesy of William Pitt • Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty
Modern hillside pool with stone wall, lush greenery, and lake view under a clear blue sky.
The outdoor pool offers a luxurious place to take in the sweeping views of the Hudson River. Photo: Daniel Milstein, courtesy of William Pitt • Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty
Indoor pool with wooden walls, skylight, and a neon flower wall art next to a sofa and framed pictures.
A sunken indoor pool was added as part of renovation Breuer helmed in the 1970s. Photo: Tim Lenz, courtesy of William Pitt • Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty
Modern living room with large windows, wooden ceiling, stone fireplace, white sofas, and glass table overlooking greenery.
Slate flooring and a spectacularly finished bush-hammered concrete fireplace are highlights of the four-bedroom guesthouse. Photo: Tim Lenz, courtesy of William Pitt • Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty