 The asymmetrical façade telescopes toward the street at the left of the scheme, while the long driveway and parking areas provide access to the covered walkway and the front door. Shortly after the house’s completion, this photograph shows a relatively open site, though the design called for a number of the maturing trees to remain. The L-shaped, two-story structure mediates inside and outside through materials and various windows opening to the views. At the rear of the structure, a large window wall signifies the location for a stairhall. To the left and right, the two-story buff-colored brick walls provide a backdrop to the circular-edged patio. Just to the left in this view, a screened room allows the family to take advantage of temperate fall and spring days. Another view of the back patio shows the undulating rear face of the structure, stepping in and out as the house moves across the landscape. The open tread curving stair connects first and second floor and creates a dramatic view to confront the visitor on entering the house. The plainness of the wall-to-wall carpet underfoot balances the exuberant figured wallpaper and window coverings. A Chippendale secretary stands as the focal point at the entrance of the living room, the fireplace to the left, and the screened room in the entrance further left. Traditional furnishings stand in contrast to the more modern stone wall of the living room, bring a more blended type of interior to Loewenstein’s modern buildings. Brightly-colored floral fabric covering the sofas and striped fabric on two arm chairs contrast with the neutral interior of the living room. Two seating groupings, one to the left of the living room entrance and one around the fireplace provide zones of activity within the large room. Two banks of windows provide natural light. The even more traditional dining room incorporates vaguely Chinese wall paintings as a backdrop for the Sheraton-style dining table chairs, sideboard, and hutch. Sparse furnishings here indicate a stripped aesthetic in contrast to older Cone family homes. In the center of the house, the more modern recreation room features a television console which can be enclosed behind folding doors. Paneling, brightly colored curtain panels, and vinyl tile floors lend a cheerful air and mid-century feel to this room. Martha Cone stands behind the bar in the recreation room, offering Canada Dry Ginger Ale or Schlitz Beer. Closed doors hide bar supplies behind there and simple sconces provide uplighting in the space.
| Martha + Caesar Cone Residence
Greensboro (1955)
In designing the Cone Residence, Edward Loewenstein placed the building on its Cornwallis Road site to take advantage of the orientation and views. One of a few two-story structures designed by the firm, the exterior of the building featured an asymmetrical façade with stained vertical board siding on the second floor over light-colored buff brick on the first floor and at the rear of the structure. A large picture window connected living room to street view to the right of a covered entrance; a one-story screened room stood further right of the main building mass. The designers called for retention of many of the trees on the lot during construction. The H. Chambers Company provided interior design services for the home. The structure, remembered by many as home to one of the most prominent families in town, was demolished in the mid-1990s and the land subdivided for a cul-de-sac development now occupied by Grey Oaks Circle. These photographs represent some of the rare views of the house, and can be found at the Martin Studio Collection in the Greensboro Historical Museum.
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