Richard Meier's Smith house was one of the iconic American architect’s earliest forays into residential architecture. The Connecticut home, constructed for the Smith family and built between 1965 - 67, lies tucked away amongst the rocky landscape and greenery on the area's picturesque Gold Coast, situated within the small lakeside town of Darien. This is a breathraking location; and one that we couldn't resist exploring for one of our key fashion shoots for the March 2016 issue, entitled 'Between The Lines'.
This white, almost-ethereal construction proudly showcases Meier’s well-loved modernist minimalism and clean aesthetics. The property’s geometric layers of intersecting bright white planes, delightfully offsets the area’s surrounding foliage. This visual contrast produces a dramatic effect, highlighting Meiers’ ability to execute a sharp, yet beautiful juxtaposition of nature and architecture.
Within the three storey property, the living and sleeping areas are forged around a clear separation of public and private spaces. On the front facing side of the house, snug cubic rooms are dotted with strategically placed windows that make the best use of light, thus creating a comfortable interior.
The rear side, which overlooks the ocean and breathtaking cove below, boasts a delicate, transparent glass facade that allows light to flood into the communal areas of the house, seamlessly connecting the inside space with the outside environment and in result, creating a well-lit, vibrant place to relax.
The Smith House truly stands the test of time; fast approaching its 50th birthday, the construction still encapsulates effortless modernist elegance, confirming Meier’s unique creative vision, flawless execution and mastery of the complex balance of proportion and light.
The full fashion photoshoot at the Smith House can be found in the March 2016 issue of Wallpaper*
The three storey property expertly offsets the surrounding foliage, creating a strong juxtaposition between nature and architecture
See the full fashion shoot based at the Smith House in the March 2016 issue of Wallpaper* (*204).
The light, clean vibrancy of the house made an ideal backdrop for the architectural dresses on display.
INFORMATION
For more information on the Smith House, please visit Richard Meier’s website
-
Love jewellery? Now you can book a holiday to source rare gemstonesHardy & Diamond, Gemstone Journeys debuts in Sri Lanka in April 2026, granting travellers access to the island’s artisanal gemstone mines, as well as the opportunity to source their perfect stone
-
The rising style stars of 2026: Connor McKnight is creating a wardrobe of quiet beautyAs part of the January 2026 Next Generation issue of Wallpaper*, we meet fashion’s next generation. Terming his aesthetic the ‘Black mundane’, Brooklyn-based designer Connor McKnight is elevating the everyday
-
Mexico's Office of Urban Resilience creates projects that cities can learn fromAt Office of Urban Resilience, the team believes that ‘architecture should be more than designing objects. It can be a tool for generating knowledge’
-
Step inside this resilient, river-facing cabin for a life with ‘less stuff’A tough little cabin designed by architects Wittman Estes, with a big view of the Pacific Northwest's Wenatchee River, is the perfect cosy retreat
-
Remembering Robert A.M. Stern, an architect who discovered possibility in the pastIt's easy to dismiss the late architect as a traditionalist. But Stern was, in fact, a design rebel whose buildings were as distinctly grand and buttoned-up as his chalk-striped suits
-
Own an early John Lautner, perched in LA’s Echo Park hillsThe restored and updated Jules Salkin Residence by John Lautner is a unique piece of Californian design heritage, an early private house by the Frank Lloyd Wright acolyte that points to his future iconic status
-
The Architecture Edit: Wallpaper’s houses of the monthFrom wineries-turned-music studios to fire-resistant holiday homes, these are the properties that have most impressed the Wallpaper* editors this month
-
The Stahl House – an icon of mid-century modernism – is for sale in Los AngelesAfter 65 years in the hands of the same family, the home, also known as Case Study House #22, has been listed for $25 million
-
Houston's Ismaili Centre is the most dazzling new building in America. Here's a look insideLondon-based architect Farshid Moussavi designed a new building open to all – and in the process, has created a gleaming new monument
-
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fountainhead will be opened to the public for the first timeThe home, a defining example of the architect’s vision for American design, has been acquired by the Mississippi Museum of Art, which will open it to the public, giving visitors the chance to experience Frank Lloyd Wright’s genius firsthand
-
Clad in terracotta, these new Williamsburg homes blend loft living and an organic feelThe Williamsburg homes inside 103 Grand Street, designed by Brooklyn-based architects Of Possible, bring together elegant interiors and dramatic outdoor space in a slick, stacked volume
