For nearly six decades, collector and longtime Museum of Modern Art trustee Barbara Jakobson made her Manhattan townhouse an evolving expression of her life and artistic interests. The five-story home is now on the market for $8.99 million.
Located on East 74th Street in Lenox Hill, the 1910 townhouse was expanded in 1956 by architect John Kingsland. Jakobson bought it in 1965. Before her, filmmaker Elia Kazan lived there, and the residence was reportedly visited by actors including James Dean, Natalie Wood and Marlon Brando.
A home shaped by art
Known as the "Squirrel House" for the bronze squirrel sculptures at its entrance, the property spans about 6,000 square feet. Its eight bedrooms and six full bathrooms are arranged across five levels. Red lacquered doors lead to an entry hall with triple arches and custom wallpaper by artist Peter Halley.
The parlor floor includes a living room, gallery and salon with a wood-burning fireplace. A spiral staircase descends to a double-height great room, where an outline of Frank Stella's 1971 work Felsztyn III remains. The painting once hung there before being sold in 2005. Glass doors connect the room to a private 350-square-foot garden.
Guest rooms occupy two floors, while the top level is dedicated to the primary suite, including a private lounge. The listing brings a distinctive piece of New York's art and design history into the contemporary property market. Its next chapter may show how a private home can continue to connect architecture, collecting and everyday life.
