Nestled in the serene landscapes of New Canaan, Connecticut, Le Beau Chateau (formerly Clark House) stands as a testament to architectural brilliance and timeless elegance.
Originally built in 1937 and designed by the New York firm Voorhees, Gmelin & Walker, the steel-and-concrete country estate was left untouched for decades, frozen in time until its stunning reinvention in 2014.
Its fortress-like structure, reminiscent of a French hunting lodge, was a marvel of its time, boasting nine bedrooms, eleven fireplaces, and a grandeur that set it apart in Fairfield County.
In 1952, reclusive copper heiress Huguette Clark purchased the 14,266-square-foot mansion as a sanctuary amid Cold War–era fears of nuclear Armageddon. Yet, as detailed in Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune, she never lived in or furnished the home.
For over sixty years, the pristine estate remained untouched, meticulously maintained by a devoted caretaker. Clark passed away in 2011 at age 104, leaving behind a time capsule of unrealized potential.
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In 2014, fashion designer Reed Krakoff and his wife, interior designer Delphine Krakoff, acquired the Clark House and embarked on a transformative restoration.
Featured in Architectural Digest, their vision preserved the château’s historic integrity while infusing it with modern elegance. Soaring ceilings, expansive windows, and grandly scaled rooms now flow with clarity and ease, embodying a serene, stately aesthetic.
A gracefully restored curved staircase leads to a third-floor lounge, while a walled garden with a custom pavilion — just off the dining gallery — creates a sophisticated setting for outdoor entertaining.
The Krakoffs also collaborated with landscape architect Perry Guillot to transform the estate’s 52 acres into a private park. A meandering drive leads to a great lawn, complemented by streams, waterfalls, woodland trails, and wildflower gardens. A 60-foot granite pool and tennis court blend seamlessly into the landscape, while two gatehouses — one a caretaker’s residence and the other a private gym — flank the discreet entrance.
Today, this rare and elegant home balances privacy, proximity to New York City, and unparalleled design. Once the abandoned sanctuary of an enigmatic heiress, it has been reborn through the vision of two design luminaries, standing as a beacon of modern elegance in Fairfield County.
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Via: Sotheby’s
