Breuer, Marcel, House II

The Marcel Breuer House II is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places at the national level for its associations with progressive mid-twentieth-century domestic lifestyle trends, architectural social milieu, and demonstration of Modern style residential architecture during the mid-twentieth century. The building possesses significance under Criterion A in the category of Social History for its association with the development of highly efficient and affordable homes that implemented new ideas about privacy, modern aesthetics, and an emphasis on open interior and outdoor space. The house is the first residence Breuer constructed for his family after arriving in Connecticut and is additionally significant under Criterion A for its associations with the emerging colony of Modern style architects who were networking and realizing their experimental designs in New Canaan. Under Criterion C, the building possesses significance in the area of Architecture as an expressive residential work of internationally renowned architect Marcel Breuer that exhibits his "long house" plan first developed in 1945 and displays innovative structural elements that pushed the envelope of engineering at the time. The house demonstrates Breuer's early use of fully cantilevered components, achieved through adjustments to the traditional American wood frame and originally supported through the integration of contemporary steel cables and laterally braced sheathing. Upon completion, the house was featured as a model work in architectural periodicals and included as an integral part of the initial Modern house tour in New Canaan in 1949. The Marcel Breuer House II meets the requirements for listing under property type Number E.1 Box, as defined in the Mid-Twentieth-Century Modern Residences in Connecticut Multiple Property Documentation Form (MPDF) and considerably contributes to the Modern Architecture Movement in the United States, 1920–1979 and Mid-Twentieth-Century Modern Residential Architecture in Connecticut, 1930–1979 historical context themes described in the MPDF.