Dedicated to the preservation of Long Island's 'gold coast' estates and other things old.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
'Poplar Hill'
'Poplar Hill', the Frederic B. Pratt estate designed by Charles A. Platt between 1917-1924 in Glen Cove as seen in 1927. Click HERE for more on 'Poplar Hill'.
Photos from Country Homes Constructed by the Elliot C. Brown Company, New York, 1927.
I echo Magnus's comment yesterday -- too bad the interiors didn't complement the excellent (& clean) French exterior. In fact the floor plan goes against a French layout because all the major rooms on the ground floor feed into the corridor; none of them connect directly with each other. I know I'm already on record as liking hallways & disliking rooms that become intersections; but there is a happy medium.
I like the second floor -- nice, functional bedrooms & only two of the seven don't have their own bathroom (two have to share).
This house is another confirmation of my supposition that the Pratts were not a particularly stylish family. They seem, in every instance, to have opted for conventionality over originality. The architecture and interiors selected by the children of Charles Pratt were a reflection of the children themselves: Solid, stolid, but for the most part unremarkable and perhaps a tad boring.
To answer HPHS ~ Yes, Skylands is featured with three illustrations showing the house during the period the landscaping was being completed. the book, entitled, "Country Homes", features twenty-four properties that the Elliot C. Brown Company built. Skylands is noted as the home of Clarence McK. Lewis, Esq. ~ Sterlington, N.Y. given as the site. John Russell Pope credited as architect. Poplar Hill is the first property featured in the publication.
If this, the Braes, Killenworth and the Manor are unremarkable and boring, I only wish we had more people who had the sense to build boring the way the Pratts did. These homes, their siblings homes and their later childrens homes and the wonderful service oval made up a remarkable collection of adjoining family estates and auxiliary buildings. Their equally close grouping of Brooklyn city homes is also fascinating in their proximity and varied styles.
Click on the rightmost picture for a 360 degree view from the roof of the modern extension. (You may want to turn off the sound on your computer first.)
P.S. Memo to Glengariff Corporate: Please paint your shutters light blue.
Ancient's panoramic link answers my long held question - "How much of the original interior still exists?" The panoramic of the lobby on that same link gives the definitive answer. The stairs, a mantle, and nothing else. If the original English inspired interior contrasted with the French inspired exterior, then the modern health care interior is downright defiant toward the exterior's regality. To DED's comment, I guess the presence of the vinyl shutters and loss of the original and charming details around the front door should have better prepared me for what was to be found inside. But hope springs eternal.
360 view is wonderful. Its the only place in Glen Cove where your eyes cant see the new addition. Prior to Glengariff's renovation, I mean gut, the interiors were totally intact. Most likely when the new addition was built the entire place received the Best Western/Quality Inn makeover. Makes you wonder if all the lamenting on this site is justifed if you only knew what the alternatives might have been if other homes survived and ended up like this place. Also vinyl can be painted.
I am so puzzled that anyone could describe this house as remotely french. The roofline, the windows- pure "Standard Oil Georgian". While this house has charm, and is certainly pretty, it is unremarkable.
Actually, splitting hairs, I would call it more Stuart or Carolingian than Georgian---but, in fact, the surround of the Entrance door is pure 18th century France...
In the case of these houses, the only word that can proceed the word "pure" is pastiche. This house is a pastiche. Even if the door surround is vaguely inspired by France, the proportions make it purely 20th Century American. Plus, the door that it surrounds would never have happened in 18th Century France. This is a pleasant 20th Century American Pastiche. To compare this house to anything that exists in Europe will only make it look poor.
14 comments:
Quite the contrast to the exterior. Is Skylands Manor in this publication?
http://www.njbg.org/skylandsmanor.shtml
That lawn looks like a putting green.
I echo Magnus's comment yesterday -- too bad the interiors didn't complement the excellent (& clean) French exterior. In fact the floor plan goes against a French layout because all the major rooms on the ground floor feed into the corridor; none of them connect directly with each other. I know I'm already on record as liking hallways & disliking rooms that become intersections; but there is a happy medium.
I like the second floor -- nice, functional bedrooms & only two of the seven don't have their own bathroom (two have to share).
This house is another confirmation of my supposition that the Pratts were not a particularly stylish family. They seem, in every instance, to have opted for conventionality over originality. The architecture and interiors selected by the children of Charles Pratt were a reflection of the children themselves: Solid, stolid, but for the most part unremarkable and perhaps a tad boring.
To answer HPHS ~ Yes, Skylands is featured with three illustrations showing the house during the period the landscaping was being completed. the book, entitled, "Country Homes", features twenty-four properties that the Elliot C. Brown Company built. Skylands is noted as the home of Clarence McK. Lewis, Esq. ~ Sterlington, N.Y. given as the site. John Russell Pope credited as architect. Poplar Hill is the first property featured in the publication.
If this, the Braes, Killenworth and the Manor are unremarkable and boring, I only wish we had more people who had the sense to build boring the way the Pratts did. These homes, their siblings homes and their later childrens homes and the wonderful service oval made up a remarkable collection of adjoining family estates and auxiliary buildings. Their equally close grouping of Brooklyn city homes is also fascinating in their proximity and varied styles.
http://vhct.virtualtourgallery.com/vhct-0049/
Click on the rightmost picture for a 360 degree view from the roof of the modern extension. (You may want to turn off the sound on your computer first.)
P.S. Memo to Glengariff Corporate: Please paint your shutters light blue.
Memo to Ancient:
Can one paint vinyl shutters?
Ancient's panoramic link answers my long held question - "How much of the original interior still exists?" The panoramic of the lobby on that same link gives the definitive answer. The stairs, a mantle, and nothing else. If the original English inspired interior contrasted with the French inspired exterior, then the modern health care interior is downright defiant toward the exterior's regality. To DED's comment, I guess the presence of the vinyl shutters and loss of the original and charming details around the front door should have better prepared me for what was to be found inside. But hope springs eternal.
360 view is wonderful. Its the only place in Glen Cove where your eyes cant see the new addition. Prior to Glengariff's renovation, I mean gut, the interiors were totally intact. Most likely when the new addition was built the entire place received the Best Western/Quality Inn makeover. Makes you wonder if all the lamenting on this site is justifed if you only knew what the alternatives might have been if other homes survived and ended up like this place. Also vinyl can be painted.
It can be painted, but the shutters still aren't scaled to the windows. Sometimes demolition is kinder.
and, of course, the replacement windows also affect the scale and appearance. Sad. Very sad.
I am so puzzled that anyone could describe this house as remotely french. The roofline, the windows- pure "Standard Oil Georgian". While this house has charm, and is certainly pretty, it is unremarkable.
Actually, splitting hairs, I would call it more Stuart or Carolingian than Georgian---but, in fact, the surround of the Entrance door is pure 18th century France...
In the case of these houses, the only word that can proceed the word "pure" is pastiche. This house is a pastiche. Even if the door surround is vaguely inspired by France, the proportions make it purely 20th Century American. Plus, the door that it surrounds would never have happened in 18th Century France.
This is a pleasant 20th Century American Pastiche.
To compare this house to anything that exists in Europe will only make it look poor.
Post a Comment