Architect: MarcheseGashi

Interior Designer: Marcia Tucker

Landscape Designer: Doyle Herman Design

Builder: Dibico Inc.

This 200 year old horse farm next to the famed White Birch Farms in Greenwich, Ct. had been abandoned and dilapidated for years. Marcheses new design drew on centuries of Greenwich equestrian history to create a truly stunning modern interpretation of the classic old shingle style estates common in the area a century ago. These were often referred to as ‘Gentlemen’s’ farms in the historical book, The Great Estates.

The Georgian Style, named after the three king Georges who reigned from roughly 1700 until the American Revolution was the first expression of wealth through architecture created by the newly prosperous merchant and landed gentry classes. Although the style can take many forms, the ultimate expression of Georgian architecture is the five-part Palladian villa. This form is composed of a large main block with two smaller forms arranged to the sides, called ‘dependencies’, and are connected back to the main house by small wings called ‘hyphens’. It makes for a very grand entry and allows for great circulation both inside and out.

Of all of the countries that have contributed to American vernacular architecture, it is arguably England, which stands out as the most influential. Although early America was founded by the English, it was also founded by the Spanish in the south, the French in the North and west, and the Dutch and Germans in the middle. Each brought their countries styles with them, but the styles of England always were associated with the landed gentry. Most English styles are not styles in themselves, but rather that which was popular under the reign of a particular monarch; which is why we have styles with names like Edwardian, Georgian and Victorian and a lot of general confusion of exactly what style house we are looking at. Most of what we think of as English architecture today grew out of something called the Arts And Crafts movement.

Receiver of the coveted Home Builders Institute award for 2011, this majestic equestrian estate was named “Best Large House in Connecticut”. It is done in the Norman Style, a style originated and taken to full flower in the Normandy area of France. Since the middle ages, the French and English kings largely contested for Normandy. Indeed, since Joan of Arc up to the Norman invasion, this area was generally considered part of England. That is why Norman architecture combines old English styles such as Edwardian, with ideas taken from both the great French Chateaus as well as the provincial styles. The result is an exquisitely rich melding of great solid stone forms with subtle carved stone details, intricate dormers and gently curved stone roofs...

Of all of the ‘revival’ styles created in the 19th century, the colonial revival is probably the most ubiquitous. Seen in virtually every town in the country it is what most people think of as the most American style of architecture. It can range from the common builders colonials found in most developments to more grand versions found in the northeast. However, the greatest flourishing of the style can be found in the post-bellum South where the large plantations allowed the style to spread out over the landscape. Characterized by formal symmetrical facades with a center hall entryway, these houses are mostly clad in white clapboard with shuttered windows.

By the 1740s, colonial America had matured to the point where its increasing wealth allowed grander expressions of architecture than the saltboxes and other basic subsistence forms that a rough frontier life dictated. The English colonialists naturally turned to their homeland for inspiration and drew on the latest styles there. What they borrowed was a mix of classical themes that the English had drawn from the Italian Renaissance, primarily from the work of Palladio. The most famous manifestation of these phenomena is probably Thomas Jefferson’s home, Monticello.

Among the most misunderstood styles, which we see around us, is the Arts And Crafts Style. Even knowledgeable people in real estate and history will tend to call these houses Tudors, Cotswold’s, Normans and even Georgians. The reason for the confusion is that the Arts And Crafts Style was more of a movement than a specific style. After a century of the rise of the industrial age, people were starting to feel nostalgic for the wonderful hand craftsmanship that was being rapidly replaced by machine made building components. There was a longing for the return of the artisan. The result was a revival of all of the middle age styles with special emphasis on the handcrafted detailing.

Known as the ‘architecture of the American summer’, the Shingle Style is quintessentially American. Developed around 1875 along the eastern seacoast from Maine to Cape May, it was primarily used as a summer ‘cottage’ style. With its relaxed broken symmetry, open verandas, towers and projecting bays it is ideal for an open natural site, especially when there is a spectacular view.

The Belle Haven Yacht Club was originally constructed as the Belle Haven Casino in 1892. It was a magnificent, sprawling Shingle Style structure with sweeping verandas and neo classical details. Unfortunately the intervening last century was not kind to it. Built at too low a grade, it was periodically flooded, causing major structural problems in the foundations. The deterioration was further exacerbated by an ill-advised attempt to save money by cladding the building in vinyl siding. This had the double effect of locking in the flood moisture, causing major rotting of the structural timbers as well as having had all of the wonderful classical details stripped off of the exterior to facilitate the vinyl siding installation. When Marchese, who was a member, volunteered to help, whole original sections of the building were gone and the roof and walls were badly sagging. An employee had actually fallen through the floor in the mens room. Marchese had to convince the membership not to demolish the historic landmark.

During the ‘Gilded Age’ around the turn of the last century, many grand estate houses were constructed along the north and south shores of the Long Island Sound. The architectural styles tended to draw on what was currently popular in European high society. One of these styles drew on the Italian Renaissance and was exemplified by the great palazzos and villas of Italy. Being one of the ‘Mediterranean’ styles it was well suited for waterfront locations such as this property in Belle Haven. However, this commission turned out to be a lot more than just a refurbishing of a grand old house and adding a guest house. It centered on the construction of a vast underground garage to both store and display the clients massive 80+ classic cars.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And that doesn’t always mean bigger is better. As an architect, sometimes the most challenging projects are those that have size or budget restrictions. Marchese welcomes that challenge and has a portfolio that includes wonderful, intimate family homes, garden follies, exquisite garage structures and pool houses. He likes to say they “sing and dance” and gets great pleasure creating these jewels...