Witthoefft House
Why it's listed
Built in 1957 on a wooded 2.75-acre site in Armonk, this modernist house was designed by architect Arthur Witthoefft for his own family. Its black-painted structural steel frame is infilled with white glazed brick and floor-to-ceiling glass, and it sits over rock outcroppings beside New York City watershed land. Inside, a teak-paneled core separates public and private rooms, and a travertine fireplace divides the living and dining areas. Witthoefft worked at Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, and the house carries that firm's commercial International Style approach into a residential setting. It is described as a rare example of the style in suburban New York City, and it won an American Institute of Architects honor award in 1962. The family lived there until 1989. Later owners altered finishes, and the house then stood vacant for seven years. A restoration beginning in 2007, with the original architect consulting, returned much of its original design and condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a fine, rare example of residential International Style design in suburban New York City, under Criterion C for architecture. Its exposed steel frame, brick and glass curtain walls, functional plan and emphasis on the natural setting reflect modernism's move from commercial to residential design. It also won an AIA First Honor Award in 1962.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 11000039, listed February 22, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 11 Tallwood Rd, Armonk |
|---|---|
| County | Westchester County |
| Listed | February 22, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000039 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1957 |
| Architect / builder | Witthoefft, Arthur |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement: International Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In excellent condition following a restoration begun in 2007 after years of vacancy and earlier alterations; still used as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 2.8 |
| Coordinates | 41.13051, -73.73612 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 11000039.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8028592
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.