In September 1957, model homes were constructed to promote the new Country Estates housing development in East Hills. The development was built by Seidenwurm and Schwartz on the former Harbor Hill estate of Clarence Mackay.
One model was "radically different" from the traditional ranch homes on Long Island. The "Circular House", designed by architect Michael Radoslovich, combined a circular living room and a rectangular four- bedroom wing. As he explained his design in 1958, "we centered the kitchen between the main areas so the wife can have cocktails, play with the kids and cook practically at the same time."
Radoslovich would also design the more traditional two-story colonial for Country Estates featuring a "double-size kitchen family room." Radoslovich would become a well-known architect of schools.
Howard Kroplick, president of the Roslyn Landmark Society, remembers the Elm Drive models when he toured it with his family in 1958. Kroplick recalls:" I told my father and mother that I really wanted them to buy the flying saucer house."
The Circular House was priced at $45,000 in 1958, the equivalent of $410,000 today.
The Circular House model was featured in the December 1957 issue of Popular Science and is still standing today at 25 Elm Street.
March 30, 1958 ad in The New York Times designed to look like a news article.
3 Comments
Isabel Tiffen
I remember those houses in Country Estates. One was on Elm Drive and the other on Harbor Hill Rd.
My friend Mark Greenstein lived in one of the circular houses - are you related to Richard?
Mitchell Schwartz
Same firm that built Flower Hill Country Estates not too long prior!
This is fantastic! Do we know how many are still around? I know of 3: 1. On Elm Drive, 2. One on corner of Chestnut Dr. and Heather Dr. and 3. One on Peach Drive (the red one). The one on Peach has a sign out front that says: A Veteran lives here.
Donna, of the hundreds of homes built in Country Estates, I believe only three Circular Houses were constructed. See the Circular House profile to view all three: https://www.roslynlandmarks.org/profiles/the-circular-house