The William Rubin Estate: The MoMA Curator’s Modern Waterfront Masterpiece
Once home to noted modern art museum curator William Rubin, this contemporary waterfront estate is just 40 minutes from New York City
Once home to noted modern art museum curator William Rubin, this contemporary waterfront estate is just 40 minutes from New York City
Custom built and renovated for the most ardent of art collectors, this waterfront home next to Mallard Lake in Pound Ridge, Westchester County, was designed by Vuko Tashkovich in 1995, offering 9,358 square feet (869 sq m) of gallery-grade display space.
The five-bedroom property showcases the architect’s ultramodern, geometric style, crafted to drench interiors with sunlight from all angles. But while the Macedonian-born master builder served as the designer for a total of 57 unique homes, this one was given a boost from the eye of a noted art lover: the late William Rubin, former director of the Museum of Modern Art’s prestigious department of painting and sculpture.
He was responsible for raising the museum’s profile to powerful heights during his tenure in the 1970s and ’80s—acquiring some of its most lauded pieces. When Rubin first moved into the Westchester estate with his wife, curator and art historian Phyllis Hattis, the home was not quite finished, which allowed them to customize it for their passions. Walls were adjusted and spaces were adapted for optimum illumination of their collection of modern and tribal art.
The couple also regularly used the home for entertaining friends and colleagues from the art world, taking advantage of the large terraces, the bright, airy rooms and natural flow through the spaces. Rubin passed away in 2006 and the home has just been put on the market by Hattis, who has been spending more time at another residence in the south of France, where she has created Centre L’Oubradou, a place of learning where the most influential minds in art and science connect.
The property is located in Pound Ridge, which is just a 10-minute drive from the larger center of Bedford. The town is relatively undeveloped (it has no traffic lights) yet dotted with a “higher than normal” number of ultramodern homes, according to Shaylene Neumann of Neumann Real Estate, the exclusive affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate in the region.
“For commuting purposes, it’s a great location. Pound Ridge is just a 40-minute drive from New York City, making it popular for those who need to get into the city regularly,” says Neumann. “It’s a fairly secluded town, yet less than an hour’s drive from both La Guardia and JFK airports. There are just five residences on Mallard Lake. The privacy of being right on the lake is very special. It’s secluded, quiet, and simply beautiful.”
This is an ultramodern dream home for an artist looking to display their works or a collector with an eye for space.
As for this home, the large, modern arched windows allow for spectacular lake views from almost every room, including from the indoor saltwater pool, sauna, and spa—another addition by Rubin. “The ceilings are very high throughout the building, with sliding glass doors and arched windows that bring in plenty of natural light,” says Neumann. “Each room is designed to maximize the view.”
Even the outdoor spaces boast a little touch from the previous owner. While the large, open windows and walls of glass serve to bring in the light, they also offer panoramic views of the natural splendor surrounding the home. With that in mind, Rubin applied another one of his passions: tree collecting, approaching landscaping in much the same way he went about curating art exhibits. Rare trees and uniquely varied foliage are visible from every corner of the house over the three-and-a-half-acre (1.4-ha) grounds, with a Japanese maple at the heart of the collection.
Sparkling just beyond the bluestone decks and the trees is the lake, accessible from a personal dock, which sits just a short row away from a small, private island—providing a slice of natural paradise to Mallard Lake residents.
Lake views can be seen from every room on the back end of the property, including an eat-in kitchen perfect for breakfast in the morning sun, thanks to a curved wall of windows encompassing the dining area. Another highlight is the breezeway between the downstairs office and studio, which is an area in its own right, yet defines the separate work and play spaces.
Guests arrive via a long, private driveway and are welcomed by a magnificent stone wall connected to a white column by cantilevered glass at the entrance. The white domes over the arched windows mix with the otherwise clean lines of the roofs and pillars to create a striking visual sure to impress anyone lucky enough to visit.
“It’s fabulously private and spectacular in design, and great for someone who loves to entertain, with the airy interior, formal dining room, and expansive lawns,” says Neumann. “The William Rubin Estate is an ultramodern dream home for an artist looking to display their works or a collector with an eye for space.”