5 Hemlock Drive, Essex, Connecticut

About 5 Hemlock Drive

5 Hemlock Drive is a 1972 Acorn Deck House - one of the most admired prefab designs in American residential architecture - comprehensively rebuilt under the direction of Marcus Gleysteen, AIA, founder of the award-winning Marcus Gleysteen Architects. While the original post-and-beam frame, cedar decking, brick chimney and characteristic roof form remain, every surface, system and finish has been renewed. The house now combines the bones and character of a mid-century modern classic with the comfort and performance of a home built today. The house sits on a nearly one-acre wooded lot on a quiet cul-de-sac in Essex, consistently ranked among the most beautiful small towns in America. A screen of rhododendrons and flowering trees gives the property a sense of seclusion, despite its proximity to the river and town. The main entry is reached by an original bluestone path along the side of the house; a secondary entry at the front leads down to the lower level and the new mudroom. The river trail network is directly accessible, and Interstate 95 and rail connections to Boston and New York are close at hand. This residence makes full use of the type's strengths. The innovative floor plan places cooking, dining and living on the upper level, where the vaulted ceiling and expanse of glass open the space generously to the surroundings.