CHARLES (CHARLIE) GWATHMEY, FAIA (1938-2009)
Gwathmey was a native of Charlotte NC. His mother was the sister of Walter Hook, a Charlotte architect whose work included Mercy Hospital, Carolinas Medical Center, Presbyterian Hospital, and the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Salisbury. Gwathmey's grandfather was C. C. Hook who designed projects at Duke University over 30 years. After his family moved to New York City, he attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts, graduating in 1956. He studied architecture at the University of Pennsylvania and Yale University, receiving a Master of Architecture degree in 1962 at the latter. At Yale, he studied under Paul Rudolph and won both the Winchester Travelling Fellowship and a Fulbright Grant. From 1962-1963 he worked for Candilis Josic Woods in Paris; from 1963-1964 at George Nemeny Architects in New York, and from 1964-1966 for Edward Larrabee Barnes in New York.
In 1966 he rose to fame for a house and studio for his parents in Amagansett NY. Gwathmey was not a licensed architect at the time. When he did take the professional licensing exam, he was surprised to see a multiple-choice question on the test that asked "Which of these is the organic house?" The choices included the house he designed for his parents. He wanted to answer that the organic house was his, but in order to pass the exam he chose Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater House. He knew that was the answer they wanted. He passed the test.
Gwathmey went into partnership with Richard Henderson, left, to form Gwathmey and Henderson Architects. In 1968, the firm became Gwathmey Henderson and Siegel with the addition of Robert Siegel. After Henderson's departure in 1970, Gwathmey Siegel & Associates was established. He was one of the New York Five (with Michael Graves, Peter Eisenman, Richard Meier, and John Hejduk) who dominated Modernist architecture in the 1960s with mostly white buildings, clean lines, and minimal ornament. They were the subject of the 1969 CASE (Conference of Architects for the Study of the Environment) meeting at the Museum of Modern Art and a 1972 book, The New York Five.
Gwathmey was honored with the Brunner Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters (1970) and elected to the Academy of Fellows (1976). In 1983, he won the Medal of Honor from the New York Chapter of the AIA. In 1985, he received the first Yale Alumni Arts Award from the Yale School of Architecture. Three years later, the Guild Hall Academy of Arts awarded Gwathmey its Lifetime Achievement Medal in Visual Arts. In 1990 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York State Society of Architects.
From 1965 through 1991, Gwathmey taught at Pratt Institute, Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, Princeton University, Columbia University, the University of Texas, and UCLA. He was Davenport Professor and Bishop Professor at Yale, and the Eliot Noyes Visiting Professor at Harvard University. In 2005, he served as the William A. Bernoudy Resident in Architecture at the American Academy in Rome. Gwathmey's first marriage, to Emily Gwathmey, ended in divorce; they had one daughter, Annie Gwathmey. He married Bette-Ann Damson in 1974 who donated his archives to Yale in 2010. 1980 interview.
One of his most famous designs is the 1992 renovation/addition of Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim Museum in New York.
His North Carolina buildings are:
The 1994 Rubenstein-Silvers Hillel Center at Duke University in Durham.
The UNC-Charlotte School of Architecture (designed with Ferebee Walters) in Charlotte.
The 2002 Louise Cameron Wells Museum of Art in Wilmington. After Gwathmey's 2009 death, the museum sponsored a two-part lecture on his life and career.
Video: Part 1.
Part 2.
1964 - The Gerald Miller Residence, Fire Island NY. Sold around 1989 by an architect who worked for Barnes and Noble to a neighbor, who destroyed it for expansion of his adjacent house.
1966 - The Robert and Rosalie Gwathmey Residence and Studio, 122 Bluff Road, Amagansett NY. Designed with Richard Henderson. Engineering by Edward Klausner. Gwathmey became famous designing these buildings for his parents. Costing $35,000, the Gwathmey house attracted throngs of visitors and was consistently named one of the most influential buildings of the modern era. Built by John Caramagna. In 2001, Gwathmey inherited the house from his mother and moved in. He did renovation that included covering the original concrete floor with marble. Deeded to the Bette Ann Gwathmey Trust, who completed a renovation in 2024. Stairs and dining room photos by Scott Francis/Esto, renovation bottom photo by Reid Cashour.
1968 - The Joseph (Joe) Sedacca Residence, 19 Northwest Landing Road, East Hampton NY. 1100 square feet on three acres. Built by John Caramagna. Won a 1968 AIA NY Honor Award. Sold in 1993 to Paul A. Amador. Sold in 2016 to Amanda and Justin Wilkes, who added a pool and made it a rental. Sold in 2021 to Jonathan Pascarosa.
1968 - The Roger and Nina Straus III Residence, 5 Stone Bridge Road, Purchase NY. Original address was 3558 Purchase Street. 6566 sf. Designed with Richard Henderson; built by Caramagna Barbagallo La Vito. Won a 1968 AIA National Honor Award. Featured in Architectural Record Houses of 1968. Deeded to Nina Straus. Sold in 2007 to Sarosca Farm Estates LLC who divided the land for luxury homes. The house was destroyed in 2014.
1969 - The Jack D. and Barbara Weiss Goldberg Residence, 119 Wyneding Hill Road, Manchester CT. 2367 sf. Built by Stone and Goldberg; HVAC, George Langer; B/W photos William Maris. Featured in Architectural Record Houses of 1969; and the New York Times, 1969. Barbara Goldberg remarried; she passed away in 2010. Deeded to her husband, Robert P. Tucker. Deeded to Susan Goldberg. Sold in 2015 to Joshua Pearson and Darko Tresjnak.
1969 - The Kenneth Cooper House, 35 Bufflehead Lane, Orleans MA. Designed with Richard Henderson and Robert Siegel. Built by Anderson and Murray. Top left photo by Bill Maris. 1263 sf. Commissioned in 1968. Built by Anderson and Murray. Featured in Architectural Record Houses of 1970. Sold in 2003 to William and Dorothy Carr, still owners as of 2024.
1970 - The Richard (Rick) Lawrence House, 1 Bayport Lane North, Great Neck NY. On Kings Point in the Village of Saddle Rock. Designed with Richard Henderson and Robert Siegel. The house appears on a 1971 Gwathmey and Siegel resume. Henderson took this project credit when the partnership split. Sold in 1993 to Rhonda and Dan Levy who doubled it in 1996 in a similar Modernist style. Levy's still owners as of 2024.
1970 - 41 Milina Drive, East Hampton NY. Designed by Richard Henderson. Sold to Hood C. Donald. Sold in 2022 to Mayer David.
1970 - The Loring Mandel House, 117 Bay Avenue, Huntington NY. Commissioned in 1969. Designed with Richard Henderson. Does not appear in Gwathmey lists. When Henderson left the partnership in 1970, it was agreed this house would be "his." Featured in Architectural Record Houses of 1972 with credit going only to Henderson. Structural engineer, Geiger-Berger; built by Harry Sprukts. Sold in 2001 to Alyson Richman and Stephen Gordon. Sold in 2007 to Agustin Ruiz De Arcaute Diaz De Entre-Sotos. Sold in 2020 to Aleksandra Krunic and Damir Milutinovic.
1971 - The John Steel Residence, aka Steel Residence I, 79 Surfside Drive, Bridgehampton NY. House on the left, above. Commissioned 1968. Sold to Hattie Segal, later transferred to heirs. Was enlarged (addition on right near pool) and a beach footbridge and swimming pool also added. Destroyed around 1993.
1971 - The Arthur/Ruth Steel Residence, aka Steel Residence II, 67 Surfside Drive, Bridgehampton NY. House on the right, above. Commissioned 1969. Added on considerably (left section of house) plus a pool. Featured in the movie Wall Street (1987). Sold in 1997 to Stanley Shopkorn. Destroyed around 2006.
1970 - The Faye Dunaway Apartment, Eldorado Building, 300 Central Park West Floor 20, New York NY. Interior photos by Ezra Stoller/Esto. Windows were modified, which the HOA no longer allows. Sold to Evan Newmark.
1970 - The Eskilson Residence, Roxbury CT (unbuilt).
1970 - The Michael Tolan Residence, 130 Bluff Road, Amagansett NY. Next door to the house for Gwathmey's parents. Commissioned in 1965. Project architect, Timothy Wood. Built by John Caramagna. Featured in Architectural Record Houses of 1975. Sold to the Kurzner family. Sold in 2020 to 130 Bluff Rd LLC. Renovations designed and built by Nick Martin, who used to work for Gwathmey Siegel.
1972 - The Marshall and Maureen Cogan Residence, 34 Terbell Lane, Hook Pond, East Hampton NY. Five acres. Commissioned 1971. Built by John Caramagna; project architect, Timothy Wood. Marshall Cogan was the former owner of Knoll. Won an national AIA Award and a AIANY Award; featured in Architectural Record Houses of 1973. Sold to Joan and Joseph Cullman, who was the head of Philip Morris. Sold to Gary Fuhrman, who had it destroyed and a new house built. Photos by Ezra Stoller/Esto.
1972 - The Whitney Road Public Housing Project, aka Pines of Perinton, 1 Locust Lane, Fairport NY. 560 units.
1973 - The Charles Gwathmey Barn Renovation, aka the Friday Barn Renovation, 490 North Street, Greenwich CT. Project architect, Timothy Wood. Gwathmey's renovations are in B/W. Sold in 1995 to Paul and Dana Caan who upon Gwathmey's recommendation hired Stamberg/Aferiat for substantial additions and renovations, color photos. They were still the owners as of 2024.
1973 - The Paul and Kay Breslow Apartment, aka the New York Apartment, 1016 5th Avenue #14A, New York NY. Designed for a writer and his wife. They later co- authored a book, Charles Gwathmey & Robert Siegel: Residential Works. Project architects, Timothy Wood and Stephen Potters. Bottom photo by Tom Yee. Sold to Margaret and Douglas Nordlinger.
1973 - The Elia-Basch House, aka the Peter J. Basch House, 17 Wildwood Road, Califon NJ. The project architect was Timothy Daniel Wood, who furnished the construction photo. Mr. Elia is standing by the house, which eventually included a pipe organ as Basch was a well-known organist. Featured in Architectural Record, July 1974. Sold in 1983 to Stas and Sharon M. Dec. The house is almost unrecognizable as a Gwathmey creation due to several unfortunate modifications, color aerial photo. Transferred in 2013 to Sharon M. Cummings-Dec, still owner as of 2024..
1973 - The Maurice and Marilyn Cohn Residence, 54 Sandpiper Lane, Amagansett NY. Commissioned in 1972. Project architects, Timothy Wood and Marvin Mitchell. An oceanfront dune site with a steep slope to the cul-de-sac access road. Won an AIANY Design Award in 1974. Deeded to Marilyn Cohn. Sold in 2013 to 54 Sandpiper Lane LLC, controlled by Kensico Properties. Bottom photo by David Franzen.
1973 - The David Geffen Residence, Malibu CA. Unbuilt.
1975 - The Sagner House, Orange NJ. Unbuilt. Commissioned in 1973.
1975 - The Kay Unger Apartment, 136 East 36th Street, New York NY. Project architects, Peter Szilagyi, Gustav Rosenlof, Tsun-Kin Tam. Built by Building Construction Corporation. Featured in Architectural Record, September 1976. Status unknown.
1975 - The Student Apartment Housing, Dining, and Student Union at SUNY-Purchase, Lincoln Avenue, Harrison NY. Commissioned 1972.
1975 - The Island Walk Cooperative Housing Project, 1701 Torrey Pines Court, Reston VA. Modified over the years with wood siding. 102 units.
1976 - The Charof House, 15 Sycamore Lane, Montauk NY. Commissioned 1974. Project architects, Peter Szilagyi and Ivan Zaknic. Sold several times. Sold to Bart Walker. Sold in 2002 to Thomas E. (Ted) Owen, still owner in 2024. Color photo by James Wilkins.
1976 - East Campus Student Housing at Columbia University, 70-74 Morningside Drive, New York NY.
1976 - The Melville I. and Gloria Haupt Residence, 43 Gilberts Path, Amagansett NY. Top right photo by Norman McGrath. Featured in Architectural Record Houses of 1979. Structural engineer; Geiger-Berger; HVAC, Thomas Polise; built by Lazslo Girhiny and Samuel Haupt. Sold in 2014 to Benjamin Solomon/Gilberts Path LLC. Renovated by Worrell Yeung. Sold in 2021 to Singaton LLC.
1976 - The Weitz House, 238 Dune Road, Quogue NY. Featured in Architectural Record, September 1979; GA Houses 6. B/W photos by Norman McGrath. Built by Harold Reeve and Son; mechanical engineer, Thomas Polise; structural engineer, Geiger Berger. Sold in 2011 to Franne and William Weinberg, still owners as of 2024. Has been modified.
1977 - The Harry Kislevetz Renovation, 11 Lott Avenue, Westhampton Beach NY. Left photo by Norman McGrath. Commissioned 1974. Built from the shell of a Spanish- style house. Sold to Harold K. Ross. Sold in 1998 to Jay and Erica Podolsky, still owners as of 2024. Expanded around 2004.
1977 - The Buettner Residence, 67 Johnsontown Road, aka Stony Brook Drive, Sloatsburg NY. Commissioned 1974. Project architect, Peter Szilagyi. Was rented out for 20+ years. Deeded to son Robert Buettner and his wife Katherine, still owners as of 2024.
1977 - The Richard and Thea Benenson House, 95 Greenhaven Road, Rye NY. Commissioned 1976. Project architect, Peter Szilagyi. Won a AIANY Design Award. Featured in Architectural Record Houses of 1980. Built by Pasden Construction; structural, Geiger-Berger; HVAC, Thomas Polise. According to Richard Benenson, the house had no closets but had dressing rooms customized to the owners' clothes. Sold in early 1980s to Michael Silberkleit. Pool added later. There have been other renovations. Sold in 2015 to Nina Lawrence and Don Remsky, still owners as of 2024.
1977 - The Stephen and Nan Swid Apartment Renovation, aka Swid Apartment I, 635 Park Avenue, New York NY. 3400 sf. Project architect, Peter Szilagyi. Color photo by Norman McGrath. Renovated again in 1983 by Gwathmey Siegel, aka Swid Apartment II, bottom photo by Paul Warchol. Featured in Progressive Architecture, June 1985. Status unknown.
1978 - The John S. and Carol K. Crowley Residence, 627 Round Hill Road, Greenwich CT. Project architects, Peter Szilagyi and George Wu. Commissioned 1977. Sold in 1996 to Gerald Friedman. Sold later in 1996 to Robert H. and Natalie Shaffer. Deeded to the Natalie Shaffer Trust. Sold in 2013 to Jason and Anna Kaltz.
1979 - The David Geffen Apartment I, 783 5th Avenue, 17AB, New York NY. Sherry-Netherland building. Commissioned 1977. Project architect, Jose Coriano. Color photos by Norman McGrath. Featured in Architectural Digest, June 1983. Sold to Ira Lipman.
1979 - The Hines Residence, Martha's Vineyard MA. Unbuilt. Project architects, Jose Coriano and Gustav Rosenlov.
1979 - The Block Residence, Wilmington NC. Dan Rowen and Bruce Nagel were the project architects. Unbuilt.
1979 - The Gabriele Viereck Residence, 144 Fresh Pond Road, Sag Harbor NY. Structural engineers, Geiger-Berger; built by Caramagna and Murphy; HVAC, Thomas Polise; Dan Rowen and Bruce Nagel were the project architects. Featured in Architectural Record Houses of 1982. Project architect Bruce Nagel did an addition and renovation in 1988 after leaving the firm. Sold for the first time in 2023 to the Kaufmans.
1980 - The Lloyd Taft House, 4320 Drake Road, Cincinnati OH. Commissioned 1978. Gustav (Gus) Rosenlof was the project architect; HVAC, Thomas Polise; built by Don Curleff. Featured in: Architectural Record Houses of 1981; GA Houses 13. Sold to Robert W. and Carol Olson. Minor alterations around 1990 by Carl Strauss Associates and in 1994 by Stewart Maxwell Jr. New outdoor patios in 2005. Sold in 2015 to John Meckstroth. Sold later in 2015 to Christopher Frutkin and Jennifer Sizer.
1981 - The Arango Apartment, New York NY. Photos by Norman McGrath. Project architects were Paul Afariat, Jose M. Coriano, and Frank Lupo. Do you know the address? Status unknown.
1981 - The François de Menil Renovation, 16 Crestwood Drive, Houston TX. Bruce Nagel was the project architect. The original house was built in 1957, designed by George and Abel B. Pierce for the Zwerneman family. Sold to the Lundgrens. Additional building by Eugene Aubrey. Sold to Francois de Menil and renovated by Gwathmey. Sold around 2001 to Lucky Chopra. Bottom photo circa 2011. Sold in 2016 to Arnold and Tara Kurt.
1982 - The Robert and Kathy Steinberg Apartment, 944 5th Avenue 9th floor, New York NY. Commissioned 1981. Dan Rowen and Bruce Nagel were the project architects. Sold to Howard Peter Guber. Renovations by architect Stephen Yablon. Sold in 1999 to Richard and Susan Friedman. Sold in 2023 to The Grato Trust (Susan and Scott Friedman).
1982 - The Sycamore Place Elderly Housing, 222 Sycamore Street, Columbus IN.
1983 - The Francois deMenil Residence, aka Toad Hall, 428 Further Lane, Amagansett NY. Commissioned in 1979. 11,000 square feet. Paul Afariat, Dan Rowen, and Bruce Nagel were the project architects. Featured in GA Houses 15; won a 1982 Progressive Architecture award. Sold around 1988 to Edgar Bronfman Jr. Sold in 1991 to Larry Gagosian. Bruce Nagel, who left the firm by then, designed a garage compound in 2008. There was a small fire in the house in 2011. Nagel designed the restoration, which was mostly fixing smoke damage. There was a fire in the guest house in 2014. Gagosian still owner as of 2024.
1984 - The Pence Place Family Housing Apartments, 521-531 Pence Street, Columbus IN. Project architects: Jacob Alspector, Margaret Fitzpatrick, Lynn Bensel, Jose Coriano, William Garbus, Dirk Kramer, Dean Marchetto, Joseph Ruocco, and Irene Torroella. Featured in GA Houses 23.
1984 - The Sagner Residence, Essex Fells NJ. Project architect, Thomas Pfifer. Unbuilt.
1985 - The Steven Spielberg Apartment I, aka Naef Inc., Trump Tower, 721 Fifth Avenue 52D and 53D, New York NY. Commissioned 1983. Bought for him by Universal movie studio. 2500 square feet. The overall building was designed by Der Scott. Hillary Clinton stayed there many times around 2000. Status unknown.
1986 - The Barry and Patricia Gimelstob Residence, 75 Sand Spring Road, Morristown NJ. Commissioned 1982. Dan Rowen and Bruce Nagel were the project architects. There were several iterations of the design. Tennis pro Justin Gimelstob grew up there. Bottom two photos by Norman McGrath. Still in the Gimelstob family as of 2022.
1987 - The John R. and Julia Opel Residence, 297 Adirondack Drive, Shelburne VT. Commissioned 1985. 7000 square feet on 12 acres. Project architects Paul Aferiat and Reynolds (Renny) Logan. Most photos by Richard Bryant/Arcaid. Featured in: Architectural Record Houses of 1988; GA Houses 24. Bottom two photos by Peter Close, who also built it. Structural engineer, Edward Finkel. The Opels sold in 2007 to Adirondack Drive LLC, Jeffrey Robbins, who destroyed the house in 2010 except for the pool. As of 2017, the pool is also gone.
1988 - The Garey House, 23 Mauwee Brook Road, Kent CT. About 4500 sf on nine acres. Ambrosino DePinto & Schmieder, mechanical engineers; structural engineer, Robert Silman; built by Ambroziatis. Commissioned in 1983. Featured in Architectural Record Houses 1988. Sold in 2002 to Donna and Benjamin Rosen. Addition in 2023 by Handel Architects. For sale in 2024.
1988 - The Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw Residence, aka Quelle Farm, 110 Apaquogue Road, Georgica Pond, East Hampton NY. 5000 square feet on six acres. Second photo by Richard Bryant. Structural engineer, Severud Szegezdy; built by Caramagne and Murphy; project architect, Jose Coriano. Commissioned 1985. Featured in Architectural Record Houses of 1988; GA Houses 26. President Bill Clinton stayed there in 1998 and 1999. There are four buildings: the main residence, two guest houses, and a caretaker house.
1988 - The Charles and Bette Ann Gwathmey Apartment, 1115 5th Avenue 10A, New York NY. 2500 sf. Photo by Paul Warchol. Still owned by Bette Ann Gwathmey as of 2024.
1989 - The Robert Steinberg Residence, 14 Gracie Lane, Apaquogue, East Hampton NY. Bottom photo by Steven Brooke. Commissioned 1986. 8500 square feet on four acres. Originally the siding was darker, top photos. Featured in GA Houses 33. Sold in 1995 to Howard D. and Sheri Schultz. He was CEO of Starbucks. Renovated by Kang Chang, a former Gwathmey Siegel associate. Schultz still owners as of 2019.
1989 - The Oprah Winfrey Apartment, Chicago IL. Unbuilt.
1989 - Inaccurately cited as a Gwathmey design (primarily by Sean (Puffy) Combs) is the Henry Shyer House, 40 Hedges Banks Drive, East Hampton NY. Commissioned 1987. It was designed entirely by Bruce Nagel, who worked for both Gwathmey and Richard Meier before going on his own. Sold to Minoru and Yoshiko Mori. Sold to Combs in 1998. Following a particularly rowdy Fourth of July party in 1999, Combs was fined $2,000 by the town of East Hampton for hosting 500 guests above the legal limit. Sold in 2001 to 40 Hedges Realty Inc., a company controlled by Combs.
1990 - The Cary F. and Marisela Staller Residence, aka the Old Field House, 45 Crane Neck Road, East Setauket NY. Still owned by the Stallers as of 2024.
1990 - The Jack and Phyllis Rosen Townhouses, 16 and 18 East 85th Street, New York NY. Commissioned 1988. They sold 16 and still owned 18 as of 2024.
1992 - The Jeffrey and Marilyn Katzenberg House, 7996 Roamer Court, Park City UT. 14,000 square feet. Designed with Rick Otto. Interior decoration by Naomi Leff. Built by New Star General Contractors. President Clinton stayed here in 1998. In 2007, Goodyear was ordered to pay Katzenberg $2.17 million to replace faulty heating hoses. It was Goodyear's largest settlement to an individual homeowner to date, as the house was finished with rare and expensive materials destroyed in the restoration process. Deeded in 2020 to 7996 Roamer LLC, controlled by Katzenberg.
1992 - The Charles and Brenda (Bunny) Koppelman Penthouse Apartment Renovation, aka the Sobel Apartment, located in the Verona Building, 32 East 64th Street#10W, New York NY. Gwathmey took it down to the studs for a complete makeover. Sold in 2002 to Jonathan S. Sobel and Marsha Dunn, who commissioned Gwathmey for a smaller renovation. Bottom photo by Chester Higgins Jr.; other photos by Durston Saylor. Sold in 2012 to Stephen J. Meringoff.
1993 - The Jeffrey and Marilyn Katzenberg Residence, aka the Oceanfront Residence, 22350 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu CA. Commissioned 1988. Built by ARYA Design Group. 11000 square feet. Sold to the Gerald D. and L. Breslauer Trust. Bottom photo by Farshid Assassi.
1994 - The Thomas and Christina Bechtler Residence, aka the Zumikon Residence, Rigistrasse 7, Zumikon, Switzerland. Overlooks Lake Zurich. Commissioned 1990. 10,225 square feet. Built by Heinrich Sclhumpf. Featured in GA Houses 34; Architectural Record Houses of 1995. Status unknown.
1994 - The Chen Residence, aka The Chimere, Taipei, Taiwan. Commissioned 1990. A massive 40,000 square feet. Project architects Jacob Alspector and Gregory Karn. Featured in GA Houses 34. Confirmed unbuilt.
1995 - The Alan and Carol Pomerantz Apartment, aka Park Avenue Apartment, 1185 Park Avenue 5C, New York NY. Gutted down to the studs for its two- year renovation. Commissioned 1994. 2300 sf. Top photo by Hiroko Matsuike; other photos by Paul Warchol. Sold in 2012 to Herbert and Judith Freeman.
1995 - The Steven Spielberg Apartment II, 145 / 146 Central Park West 13th or 16th Floor, San Remo Building, New York NY. Combined two apartments D and E into one. Status unknown.
1997 - The Jerry and Ilene Kosberg Residence, aka the San Onofre Residence, 1600 San Onofre Drive, Pacific Palisades CA. Structural engineer: Severud; Electrical: Athans Enterprises. Commissioned 1993. 18000 square feet on 1.5 acres. Bult by ARYA. Jerry Kosberg also owned 1571 Casale down the hill next door. Featured in GA Houses 54. Sold in 2010 to Jeanne Pocras and the Millenium Trust, owners as of 2024.
1997 - The Michael Dell Residence, aka Villa Austin, aka the Hilltop House, aka Hilltop Residence, 3400 Toro Canyon Road, Austin TX. Overlooks Lake Austin. The complex is 33,000 square feet, has 8 bedrooms and bathrooms, 13 half baths, a conference room, a restaurant quality kitchen, an exercise room, an indoor pool, an outdoor pool, cabanas, and a five-level terraced lawn on 85 acres. Commissioned 1993. Still owned by Dell as of 2018.
1999 - The Gary and Karen Winnick Apartment, aka Fifth Avenue Apartment, 781 5th Avenue 20th Floor, New York NY. 2000 sf. Located in the Sherry-Netherland Hotel. Built by Bernsohn and Fetner. Photos by Paul Warchol. For sale in 2023.
2000 - The Ronald (Ron) Meyer Residence, aka the Malibu Residence, 27600 East Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu CA. Commissioned in 1993. Three acres. The top photo was an early 1990s design that was scaled back for a second, smaller version actually built. Sold in 2019 to Jan Koum, founder of WhatsApp.
2001 - The Arie and Rebecka Belldegrun Residence, aka Casa Vecchia, aka the Bel Air Residence, 811 Strada Vecchia Road, Los Angeles CA. 15,000 square feet. Deeded to Belldegrun Descendants Trust. Former site of a Wallace Neff house. Top and bottom photos by Scott Frances/Esto. Still owned by the original clients as of 2020.
2001 - The Jerry Seinfeld Apartment, aka the Central Park West Apartment, Beresford Hotel, 19th and 20th floors, 211 Central Park West, New York NY. 3800 sf. Commissioned 1998. The project architect was Kang Chang. Construction took way longer than planned, annoying the neighbors and putting in place shorter construction rules, dubbed the "Seinfeld law." Photos by Christopher Wild. Still owners as of 2023.
2002 - The David Geffen Apartment II, 783 5th Avenue, New York NY. Commissioned 2002. Another unit in the same building as Geffen I. Commissioned 1996. Project architect was Kang Chang. Photos by Paul Warchol. Possibly aka Apartment 10 West, needs verification. Status unknown.
2002 - The Alvin and Joan Einbender Apartment, aka the Gymnasium Apartment, 240 Centre Street 5H, aka the Police Headquarters Apartment, New York NY. Located in the 1909 building's former gymnasium. The NY Police Dept. moved out in 1973 and the building was converted to luxury condominiums in 1987. There are 55 apartments on six floors. This unit took four years to complete and was the only apartment Gwathmey designed from the ground up. 6600 square feet. For sale for over ten years, sold around 2019 to Richard Edelman. Photos by Paul Warchol.
2002 - The Ron and Ann Pizzuti Apartment, aka the Miranova Apartment, aka House on the Roof, 1 Miranova Place, Columbus OH. Commissioned 1996. A 12,000 sf two-story penthouse. Photos by Scott Frances. The owners are the developers of the building. Floor-to-ceiling windows stretch across part of the north side and open to a terrace overlooking the Scioto River and much of the downtown skyline. Gwathmey also designed Suite 2600 in the building.
2002 - The Eric Steel Loft, 227 West 17th Street, New York NY. Steel was Gwathmey's stepson. Photos by Paul Warchol. Rented to Ariana Huffington for two years. For rent in 2023.
2003 - The Reza Abbaszadeh Residence, aka the Belvedere Residence, aka At The Water's Edge, 445 Belvedere Avenue, Belvedere Tiburon CA. Four bedrooms, six bathrooms, over 8000 sf, and an elevator. Sold in 2007 to Settling, Ltd. Sold in 2020 to the mysterious MWNNNWM Ltd., headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, that owns several houses on this posh street. Top two photos by Mark Schwartz. For sale in 2024.
2003 - The Jonathan Sobel and Marsha Dunn Residence, aka Hamptons House, 733 Daniels Lane, Sagaponack NY. Commissioned 2000. Includes deeded ocean access, 8000 sf. Landscape design by Ed Hollander on 2.5 acres. 7 bedrooms and 11.5 bathrooms. Deeded to the Dunn's LLC, Sagg Holding. Sold in 2014 to Daniels Lane Sch LLC / Karsan K. Nanzin. For sale in 2022.
2004 - The Mitchell Rales Apartment, aka the Central Park South Apartment, 50 Central Park South Apt 25, New York NY. 8,000 sf. One floor of the Ritz Carlton Hotel. Commissioned 2001. Project architect, Celeste Umpierre. Photos by Scott Frances/Esto. Built by Bernsohn and Fetner. Still owner as of 2023..
Around 2004 - The Yitchak Tessler Apartment, 100 West 58th Street PH-2, New York NY. One of two penthouse apartments Gwathmey renovated in this building. Sold in 2013 to 58 Realty Yt LLC, controlled by Tessler.
2005 - The Astor Place Tower, 445 Lafayette Street, New York NY. The 270-foot, 21-story asymmetrical tower features of 39 loft residences, with interiors designed by Gwathmey Siegel along with Ismael Leyva Architects.
2006 - The Villa Jumeira, Dubai UAE. Status unknown.
2006 - The Mitchell Rales Residence and Museum, aka Glenstone, 12002 Glen Road, Potomac MD. The 200+ acre site, top photo, includes the Rales House and Guest house (second ahd third photos), and across the lake is his private art museum (last exterior photo by Scott Francis/Esto). Structural engineering by Severud Associates; built by Harold Gray of Lifecraft; civil engineering by A. Morton Thomas; bottom interior photos of the museum by Zhulong. Open to the public.
2007 - The Michael and Susan Dell House, aka the 6D Ranch Lake House, aka the 6D Home, 614 1/2 Commons Ford Road Austin TX. 6380 square feet. Owned by 6D Ranch LTD, controlled by DFI Resources LLC, belonging to Michael and Susan Dell.
2007 - 311 West Broadway, Townhouse TH-2, New York NY. Private entrance off Wooster Street. Sold in 2010 to Holger Bartel. Sold in 2018 to Jeannette and Dominic Martin.
2007 - The John Michael Evans Apartment, aka Apartment 40/41, 15 West 63rd Street #40, New York NY. Located in the Park Laurel building. Horizontal merger of two penthouse apartments into a 5000 sf space for a family of 7. Top photo by Paul Warchol. Sold in 2012 to Shadywood Holdings LLC. Sold in 2020 to McGee NYC Holdings LLC.
2008 - The Steve Cohen Penthouse Apartment Renovation, aka Apartment 51/52 West, 731 Lexington Avenue, aka One Beacon Court, aka 151 East 58th Street, New York NY. About 8400 sf. The 51st and 52nd floor of the Bloomberg Building. Merger of two apartments vertically into one, requiring floor removal. Photos by Paul Warchol. Built by Bernsohn and Fetner. Sold in 2021 to Simon Compound LLC. Sold again in 2022.
2008 - The Terry Semel Guest House, aka Windsor Digital Studio Guest House, 408 Further Lane, East Hampton NY. About 1600 sf. The addition of a kitchen started a war of litigation with neighbor Jonathan Sobel. Built by Bulgin and Associates.
2009 - The Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue Penthouse Renovation, 875 5th Avenue Penthouse AB, New York NY. Overlooking Central Park. Engineering by Silber.
2009 - 240 Park Avenue South, New York NY. Commissioned 2004. 54 luxury residential units with office and retail below. Photo by Paul Warchol.
2009 - The Harry and Linda Macklowe Apartment, aka the M-1 Apartment, aka Plaza Hotel Apartment, entire 7th floor of the Plaza Hotel, New York NY. Combined 7 units into one. About 18,000 sf. Project architect, James Ballard. Commissioned 2007. The couple divorced; property deeded to Linda Macklowe.
2009 - The W Hoboken Hotel and Residences Apartment 1805, 225 River Street, Hoboken NJ. One of 40 residences in a hotel tower.
2009 - The Blair and Cheryl Effron House, aka Wayward Point, aka Sag Harbor Residence, 34 Long Point Road, Sag Harbor NY. Unbuilt.
2010 - The Langham, aka Setai Hotel and Residential Tower, 400 5th Avenue, New York NY. Commissioned 2006. 57 floors. Right photo by William Hennessey.
2010 - The Patton/Beal Penthouse, aka the Fifth Avenue Penthouse, aka 956 Fifth Avenue Duplex, aka the Upper East Side Residence, 956 Fifth Avenue, New York NY. Commissioned 2007. Located on the top two floors. Built by Bernsohn and Fetner. Photographs by Paul Warchol.
2010 - aka the Aspen Residence, aka the Three Trees Residence, 1 Toby Lane, Aspen CO. Commissioned 2006. Owned by Three Trees LLC, a holding company run by Warren Kanders. Project architect Dirk Kramer. On the side of Shadow Mountain. 15000sf. Built by Harriman Construction. Structural Engineers, KL&A, Inc. Mechanical by Beaudin Ganze; lighting by HDLC Architectural Lighting Design. 9.4 acres.
2010 - The W Hotel New York Hotel and Residential tower, 123 Washington Street, New York NY. Commissioned 2005.
2010 - Apartment 15, New York NY. Possibly built. Status and client unknown.
2010 - The Larry Gagosian Villas, Saint Barthélemy (aka St. Barth's), Colombier, French West Indies. Commissioned 2009. Has a stunning view of St. Maarten just a few miles away. The project architect was Kang Chang who finished it after Gwathmey's death. Two levels: On the lower is six guest villas, one of which holds a living room, kitchen, dining area, and gym. On the more private upper level is a master bedroom villa, plus another containing a living room, dining room, and kitchen. Each level has its own pool and terrace. Photos by William Abranowicz/Architectural Digest.
2011 - The Mitchell Rales House, aka Ruthy's Way, 137 Peabody Drive, Northeast Harbor, Mount Desert Island ME.
2011 - aka the MS4610 Cabin, Aspen CO. Owned by the same people as Three Trees, above, under MS4610 Holding Company LLC. Unbuilt.
2011 - aka East Hampton Residence, East Hampton NY. Status unknown.
2012 - Condos, 323 Park Avenue South, New York NY. 16 half-floor residences, 1350 square feet each. Gwathmey's last residential design.
Sources include: The New York Times; Mario Roy; Virtual Globetrotting; AIANY; Gwathmey Siegel; Conde Nast Traveler; Blockshopper Long Island; In Search of Clarity: The Architecture of Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects.