MANHATTAN'S 1960S BUBBLE HOUSE LISTS FOR $5.75M

Summary:

• Maurice Medcalfe's 1969 renovation transformed a brownstone with 12 oval windows and stucco exterior
• The Lenox Hill property spans 4,736 square feet with four bedrooms across four stories
• First market listing in 50 years asks $5.75 million through Leslie Garfield

A converted brownstone known for its unusual circular windows has been put up for sale in Manhattan's Lenox Hill neighborhood. The property, which residents call the Bubble House, carries a $5.75 million price tag.

The building began as a standard 19th-century brownstone before architect Maurice Medcalfe redesigned it in 1969. Working with the firm Hills & Medcalfe, he covered the original facade with smooth stucco and installed twelve protruding oval windows. The curved glass panels replaced traditional bay windows and created the distinctive appearance that gives the house its name.

These modifications occurred during the Space Age design movement of the late 1960s. The oval windows serve both aesthetic and practical purposes, allowing natural light to enter while creating an unusual street presence among the neighborhood's conventional brick and limestone buildings.

The four-story residence includes a basement level and measures approximately 4,736 square feet. Interior features include four bedrooms, five bathrooms, and an office space at garden level. The layout reflects typical mid-century design choices, with recessed lighting fixtures, simplified fireplace mantels, and wall-to-wall carpeting in white.

Located on a residential street lined with mature trees, the property stands out from surrounding traditional townhouses. The contrast between the curved stucco exterior and neighboring period architecture has drawn attention from pedestrians for over five decades.

Leslie Garfield handles the current listing, marking the first time the property has been offered for sale since the 1960s renovation. The asking price reflects current Upper East Side real estate values for unique residential properties.

The Bubble House represents a specific moment in New York architectural history when experimental design intersected with residential development. Medcalfe's work on the project demonstrates how architects of the era adapted existing structures to reflect contemporary aesthetic preferences.

Take a look around the property in the gallery above and head over to the realtor’s website for more information.