How about this? A house that embodies a unique blend of architectural vision and historical significance. This is the Seymour Krieger House. It is located in Bethesda Maryland. Prepare to delve into the story of this remarkable home.
The Seymour Krieger House was built in 1958. Marcel Breuer designed it. He was an internationally renowned modernist architect. The landscaping was designed by Dan Kiley. The house stands as a testament to the International Style.
Seymour Krieger commissioned the house in 1956. He sought a residence embodying modern design principles. Breuer delivered a flat-roofed steel frame house. It features glazed northeast and southwest elevations. Low stone retaining walls frame paved terraces. They are outside the entrance, living room, and study.
Inside the Seymour Krieger House, the layout is thoughtfully designed. Children’s bedrooms and playrooms are separate from the parent’s suite. Public spaces connect them. These spaces include the entrance hall, kitchen, living, and dining rooms. Breuer also designed built-in cabinetry for many rooms.
Krieger was a member of the United States Prosecution Staff. He worked at the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg, Germany. He prosecuted war crimes after World War II. Later, he worked for the Federal Communications Commission. He opened his own firm in 1946. In 1954, he became general counsel for Greater Washington Educational Television Association, Inc. Sadly, Krieger passed away in 1960. His family lived there until 1964.
The Seymour Krieger House has seen some changes over the years. Yet minimal renovations have preserved Breuer and Kiley’s vision. A later owner restored the mechanical system. The architectural integrity of the structure was kept intact. The house originally had radiant floor heating. The original boiler was still operational. The wrought iron radiant piping had corroded. It was leaking in multiple locations. The bluestone floor tiles were carefully numbered and removed. The original wrought iron radiant tubing was removed. A new Rehau PEX radiant tubing system was installed. A new concrete slab was poured. The flagstones were carefully placed back in their original positions.
Today, the Seymour Krieger House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house is a one-story, steel-framed building. It is constructed of all-stretcher coursed brick, painted white. It features marlite panels with bands of large plate-glass windows. Sliding-glass doors are set within steel frames. The house rests on a concrete foundation.
The Seymour Krieger House stands as a reminder of architectural innovation. It also stands as a testament to a man’s dedication to justice and communication.