Country House of Character - The COUNTRY HOUSE of MR . BERTRAM G. WORK at Oyster Bay, L. I. By DELANO and ALDRICH Architects

What constitutes the perfect country house? Country Life asked this question of several of the leading architects in New York, and asked them to indicate some country houses which they had designed and which, in their opinion, made them distinctive from other houses. ***Below is the response from Architects Delano & Aldrich - 1919***

The COUNTRY HOUSE of MR . BERTRAM G. WORK at Oyster Bay, L. I. By DELANO and ALDRICH Architects

 IT FREQUENTLY happens that the natural difficulties encountered in perfecting the plans for a country place add largely to the architectural interests of the finished product. Certainly this is true of the house and grounds which we recently finished for Bertram G. Work, Esq., at Oyster Bay. 

The COUNTRY HOUSE of MR . BERTRAM G. WORK at Oyster Bay, L. I. By DELANO and ALDRICH Architects

 The physical difficulties to be overcome, together with the sympathy and imagination of our clients, enabled us to produce something out of the ordinary. When the plans were being studied, the property consisted of approximately thirteen and one-half acres, in which we had to wind a road rising about fifty feet. The only possible site for the house was a ridge which sloped off sharply in three directions so that literally there was not one square foot of level ground. As assets there were a very beautiful view over Oyster Bay and the Sound and a remarkable oak tree - one of the finest on Long Island. If one cares to take the trouble to study the plan and the photographs together, it will become evident how much charm has been added to the place by the difficulties of the original contours.

The COUNTRY HOUSE of MR . BERTRAM G. WORK at Oyster Bay, L. I. By DELANO and ALDRICH Architects

 The house itself is built of masonry - stucco trimmed with limestone - very simple in all its details. A feature was made of the wrought iron work, which was admirably executed by Mr. Yellin of Philadelphia. The house is as nearly fireproof as possible. Inside, the rooms are few but of ample proportions; and we had the satisfaction, which every competent architect should have, of designing the interiors, even to such small details as electric light fixtures and hardware.

The COUNTRY HOUSE of MR . BERTRAM G. WORK at Oyster Bay, L. I. By DELANO and ALDRICH Architects

 The grounds are not fully finished but already the house and surroundings have assumed an air of age, which promises well for the future of the whole.

The COUNTRY HOUSE of MR . BERTRAM G. WORK at Oyster Bay, L. I. By DELANO and ALDRICH Architects

Click HERE to see at wikimapia with all the appropriate links. Color illustration by John Vincent.