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HUGH JEROME SMALLEN, JR. AIA (1919-1990)
Smallen attended Yale University and, against his father's will, pursued a degree in architecture. His studies were interrupted by WWII where he served as an aerial photographer. Upon return he graduated in 1947. A year later he attended the Institute of Design in Brooklyn. He then began a short career with Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, but in 1950 decided it was time to leave New York. He and wife Kathryn and two daughters, ages 3 and 6, moved to Ft. Lauderdale FL where in 1951 they opened the Design Collaborative furniture store. In 1952 Smalled got his Florida license for architecture. They did several interior design jobs for IBM, and in 1952, the design of his shop was displayed in the "De Stijl" exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art. They built a home in FL and in 1954 moved to New Canaan CT in 1954 where he built a house and opened his own architectural firm. He died in 1990 in Sarasota, and he and Kathryn Kroher Lapham Smallen are buried in Lakeview Cemetery, New Canaan CT. He had two stepdaughters, Candida (Candy) Lapham Smallen, also buried at Lakeview Cemetery, and Amy Kroher Franzen.
1951 - House in Florida
1957 - The Hugh Smallen Jr. House, 160 Chichester Road, New Canaan CT. Smallen purchased 20 acres along Chicester Road in partnership with John Black Lee, planning to build only Modernist houses on six lots. The property at 160 was purchased by Lee and sold to Smallen to build his home in 1957. In 1962 a 3-car garage was added and in 1969 a lower level studio. In 1979 Smallen designed an addition. Sold in 1993 to Clyde and Barbara Crebs. Sold in 2003 to Michael McDermott. Sold in 2007 to David Strine. Sold in 2011 to Edward Bases and Martha Pierson.
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1962 -
The Liston and Corinne Tatum Jr. House, 431 Valley Road, New
Canaan CT. Roy Varian, builder. The house originally
consisted of four structural bays for four zones of
activity. In 1967 two "great" rooms were added designed by
Dan Kistler, an associate of Smallen's. Sold in 1995 to Paul
Bertin-Boussu. He removed an outdoor sculpture, part
of the 1967 addition, as well as dismantled most of the
built in furniture. Sold in 1999 to Craig Bloom and Ashlea
Ebeling who renovated in 2004 with architect John Black Lee
and landscape architect Peter Rolland.
1963 - The Nathaniel and Theo Becker House, 136 Chichester Road, New Canaan CT. The Beckers were architectural programmers and industrial designers. Together with his brother Jules, Nathaniel founded Becker and Becker Associates in 1950 designing taxicab meters, light fixtures, packaging, corporate identity, and trade show exhibits, including the Seven-Up Pavilion at the 1964 World’s Fair. Sold in 2003 to Marianne Dolan who reconfigured the house from 5 to 3 bedrooms and replaced the windows and doors. Sold in 2006 to Thomas and Carol Herbig. Deeded in 2008 to Carol Herbig.
1964 - The Samuel A. Parsons House, aka Tree House, 188 Chichester Road, New Canaan CT. Sold in 1998 to John Mastera. Sold in 1971 to Norman Rowe, who built a separate 2 story, 2 car garage with a studio and workshop designed by John Black Lee. Sold in 1999 to Michael and Ulrike Gavin. Sold in 2006 to Michael Formica and Bob Hiemstra. Sold in 2014 to Matthew and Abigail Bangser.
1970 - The William Cluckies Residence, Westport CT. Built.
Sources include: 2009 New Canaan Survey.