NYC’s Iconic Bubble House Hits The Market For The First Time In 50 Years – ‘People Knock On The Door Just To See Inside’

On a quiet, tree-lined Upper East Side street dotted with traditional townhouses and brownstones, there’s one that stands out from the rest: NYC’s iconic bubble house. Its twelve convex oval windows reminiscent of the space-age typically leave passersby with two choices: love it or hate it. And, well, if you fall in the former category, you’ll be delighted to know that the home has officially hit the market! For the first time in 50 years, NYC’s bubble house has hit the market. And though it’s become quite the talk of the block–listing broker Richard Pretsfelder stated, “It’s this iconic neighborhood property — the kind of place where people walk by and knock on the door wanting to see it”–it hasn’t always looked like it does today. The bubble house was originally constructed as a traditional brownstone in the 19th century, not unlike those surrounding it. *Daytonian in Manhattan*writes that it was first occupied by minister William G. French, followed by teacher Ellen L. Chapman, then art enthusiast James B. Smith, and finally builder William E. Schastey, before becoming an upscale rooming house. It wasn’t until 1969 that the home underwent a visionary redesign. Architect Maurice Medcalfe transformed the façade into a modernist icon with smooth stucco exterior and signature convex oval windows, which both flood the interior with natural light and present onlookers a captivating architectural statement. And we’re sure there’s no coincidence that the house was completed the same year that the astronauts walked on the moon! Today, the inside of the home covers approximately 4,736 square feet spread throughout four stories and a basement, and the interior looks much more normal than the exterior. The residence is currently divided into four bedrooms, an office, and five bedrooms, all of which are in need of renovation according to the listing. The office occupies the garden level while the bedrooms are situated on the upper floors. Situated at 251 East 71st Street between Second and Third Avenues, the home sits just moments from Central Park, restaurants, boutiques, and convenient transit. It’s listed at $5,750,000, with annual taxes coming in at $68,928. Got an extra $5.7 mill laying around? If so, don’t miss out on the rare opportunity to own an iconic piece of New York City architecture! 📍 251 East 71st Street ❓ See the full listing Source: https://secretnyc.co/nyc-iconic-bubble-house-for-sale/