75 Hardy Dr, Princeton, NJ, 08540

Vanguard mid-century design perfectly befits a peaceful Princeton cul de sac with woodsy paths connecting to the campus of Stuart Country Day School, and the Mountain Lake watershed beyond. First commissioned by pioneering physicist Roger Dashen, this striking modernist home likely came to be when Dr. Dashen encountered the work of architect Thaddeus Longstreth at the Institute for Advanced Study, where he had built several commissioned works. Princeton-trained Longstreth first came to prominence after serving as an assistant to and later associate of modernist master Richard Neutra, collaborating on Neutra’s Kaufman house in the Palm Springs desert. The influence is particularly notable on Hardy Drive in the ways Longstreth incorporates environment throughout the plan, sometimes seeming to eliminate the line between the interior and the extended living spaces outdoors. Massive windows, protected gardens and Zen inspired terraces interact harmoniously with a surrounding clearing that gives way gradually to deeper forest. A slate entry leads to hardwood flooring in the living room, partially separated by built-ins opposite a gas fireplace. In the dining room, a whole wall of storage keeps entertaining supplies neatly organized. While the kitchen is ready to be brought up to today’s chef-level standards, the wood cabinetry is in good shape and the sunny breakfast room is oriented to capture morning light. A mudroom and half-bath are nearby. The family room opens to an intimate courtyard and a wide stone patio in back is ideal for entertaining, complete with a built-in grill. As the largest of four newly carpeted bedrooms, the dramatic primary suite truly basks in the serenity of the 2+ acre setting. Skylit bathrooms, a dressing room and a large laundry room complete the private wing. Public utilities and central A/C give a headstart on ushering this modernist home seamlessly into its next chapter.