When Carl Strauss designed his masterpiece at 3 Melville Lane, the home was celebrated for its elegance, relationship to its surroundings, and livability – qualities that became trademarks of the Cincinnati architect’s designs. Sixty-six years later, the home is enjoying renewed acclaim, following a renovation that stripped it to its exterior studs and painstakingly put it back together. Every room, material and detail has been meticulously renovated to ensure the survival of Strauss’s local brand of modernism.
“This home amazes at first sight, from its bridged walkway and commanding entrance, to panoramic views from nearly every room,” says Perrin March of Robinson Sotheby’s International Realty, who is the listing agent. Nestled on a private, wooded hill in Hyde Park, the home offers breathtaking city and river views from floor-to-ceiling windows, a wide deck that spans the width of the home, and a large patio that surrounds a backyard living space with an outdoor kitchen, fireplace, pool, and spa.
The renovation by Drawing Dept. and Crapsey & Gilles Contractors has been singled out for industry awards, including best overall project, honors for its visionary carport restoration, and the SubZero Wolf Kitchen Design award. The open kitchen is a marvel of design and construction that pays tribute to essential elements of the original Strauss design, while integrating modern amenities that today’s luxury homeowners expect.
Living spaces are large, open, and take advantage of the home’s remarkable views, just as Strauss intended. Each of the three bedrooms differs in aesthetics and mood, but is consistent in the quality of the fit and finishes. The home has five bathrooms with design details that include glass and mosaic tiles, clerestory windows, and a steam shower with linear drainage systems. All mechanical systems have been upgraded, and smart home features were added for efficient living.
Up until a few years ago, the home risked disappearing altogether. Sixty years of exposure to the Cincinnati weather had taken their toll on the house. It had lost its “edge,” and few seemed willing to take on restoration of a mid-century home. Then in 2012, the current owners planned a minor remodeling project...that soon grew to include whole-home renovation with a passion for paring down to the home’s essentials and preserving the integrity of its relationship to the site. March credits the homeowners’ efforts with ensuring the longevity and authenticity of a Cincinnati treasure.
Post-renovation, the new-and-improved 3 Melville Lane does what Strauss envisioned back in the ‘50s. That is, to seamlessly blend aesthetics and function, and to be at one with its impressive natural setting. Award-winning renovation has resulted in a quintessentially modern home with the conveniences and luxuries that make modern life easy. The original design remains quintessentially mid-century, with its focus on surrounding natural beauty and awe-inspiring views of the city and river that unfold before the delighted visitor.
To sell your luxury home, contact Perrin & Diane March at Robinson Sotheby’s International Realty, 513.379.2253, perrin.march@sothebysrealty.com or www.perrinmarch.com