Nyumba ya Barbara Jakobson - Lulu la Kijarida la Upana wa Miguu 20 kwenye Upper East Side

167 Mtaa wa Mashariki wa 74 ni makazi ya ajabu yenye upana wa miguu 20, yenye ghorofa tano kwenye Upper East Side, ikichukua zaidi ya futi za mraba 6,000 za nafasi ya ndani. Imejulikana kwa kiasi cha kipekee cha usanifu, mambo ya ndani yenye mwanga, na sebuleni ya ajabu yenye kimo cha mara mbili inayoangalia bustani binafsi, nyumba hii inatoa mchanganyiko wa nadra wa ukubwa, mwanga, na hadhi ya usanifu isiyopatikana mara nyingi katika nyumba za Manhattan. Ni mkusanyiko wa nadra wa sanaa, usanifu, na historia ya familia, makazi haya yaliinunuliwa na mtengenezi wa mtindo Barbara Jakobson mwaka 1965 na kubaki kuwa makazi yake makuu kwa takriban miongo sita, likikua kuwa moja ya mambo ya ndani ya kibinafsi yenye ushawishi mkubwa kimya kimya katika utamaduni wa New York.

Awali ilijengwa mwaka 1910 na kupanuliwa mwaka 1956 na msanifu John Kingsland, nyumba hii imekuwa kivutio cha maisha ya ubunifu kwa muda mrefu. Kwa karibu muongo mmoja ilikuwa nyumbani kwa mtengeneza filamu maarufu Elia Kazan, aliyeishi hapa wakati akiongoza filamu za kisanii kama East of Eden na Splendor in the Grass. Katika miaka hiyo, watu kama James Dean, Natalie Wood, Warren Beatty, Marlon Brando, na Vivien Leigh walikuwa miongoni mwa wageni mashuhuri waliopita kupitia milango yake. Baadaye, chini ya usimamizi wa Jakobson, nyumba hiyo iliendelea kutumika kama saluni isiyo rasmi kwa ulimwengu wa sanaa na fasihi, ikikaribisha watu maarufu wakiwemo Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol, Cy Twombly, Philip Roth, na Umberto Eco.

Katika Mtaa wa Mashariki wa 74, nyumba hiyo inatambulika haraka kwa milango yake ya kipekee yenye rangi ya lacquer nyekundu na sanamu za squirrel za shaba zilizopendwa zilizoundwa na mchoraji Jane Canfield - kipengele cha kupendeza kilichoupatia mali hii jina la utani la "The Squirrel House" kwenye kitongoji. Zilizowekwa wakati wa umiliki wa mpelelezi chini ya maji na mrithi wa duka la idara Peter Gimbel, sanamu hizo za kuvutia zilichukua haraka mawazo ya vizazi vya watoto wa kitongoji.

Ndani, nyumba hii inafunguka kwa hisia ya utukufu na ukumbi wa usanifu. Ukumbi wa kiingilio wa kustaajabisha wenye matafu matatu na wallpaper maalum iliyoundwa na msanii Peter Halley inaongoza kwa chumba cha kupumzika kinachowakaribisha kilicho na mahali pa moto kinachoangalia sebule yenye kimo cha mara mbili - hisia ya kwanza isiyosahaulika ambayo ni kweli "wakati wa kushangaza".

Na dari zinazoinuka takriban futi 19, sebule hiyo inaonyesha kiasi cha ajabu cha usanifu ambacho hakikupatikana mara nyingi katika nyumba za binafsi. Ikipigwa na mwanga wa asili kutoka kwenye anga la juu na ikiwekwa katika kuta za matofali zinazoinuka, chumba hiki kina ukubwa na uwepo wa jumba la kibinafsi la sanaa. Dirisha za sakafu-hadi-dari zinaangalia bustani tulivu yenye futi za mraba 350, zikiunda muunganiko wa kuvutia wa kuona kati ya mambo ya ndani ya kushangaza na nafasi za nje.

Chumba hiki ni ndoto ya mkusanyaji wa sanaa na mazingira bora ya kujiburudisha. Wageni wanafika kwa mtindo usiosahaulika, wakiteremka kwenye ngazi iliyopinda kwa ustadi inayoingia kwa uzuri katika sebule, ikiunda kuingia kwa namna ya tamasha na kunakumbukwa. Nafasi hii inachukua kwa urahisi kazi kubwa za sanaa huku ikiendelea kuwa ya joto na ya kukaribisha kwa mikusanyiko midogo na mikubwa. Kando ya sebule kuna eneo kubwa la dining linaloongoza kwenye jikoni.

Mwanga wa asili unajaza nyumba kutoka pande zote mbili. Vyumba vinavyotazama kusini vina mwangaza na furaha, vikikamata jua siku nzima, wakati vyumba vinavyotazama kaskazini vinapata mwangaza mwepesi na wa sare na mtazamo wa vilele vya miti na anga wazi, vikiunda mazingira ya utulivu na ya kukaribisha. Katika maeneo mengine yote ya nyumba, urefu wa dari unakaa kwa ukarimu, na dari zinazokadiriwa kufikia futi 10 kwenye sakafu kuu na futi 9.2 kwenye kiwango cha juu kabisa, ikitoa mambo ya ndani hisia ya uwazi na uwiano wa nyumba ya kifahari kwenye sakafu zote tano. Kwa jumla, makazi yanatoa zaidi ya vyumba vinane, vyumba vya kuogea sita na nusu, na mipangilio mbalimbali inayowezekana, ikiruhusu wamiliki wa siku zijazo kubadilisha nyumba hii kwa aina mbalimbali za mitindo ya maisha huku wakihifadhi tabia yake ya ajabu.

The Barbara Jakobson Townhouse - A 20-Foot-Wide Architectural Gem on the Upper East Side

167 East 74th Street is a remarkable 20-foot-wide, five-story Upper East Side residence encompassing over 6,000 square feet of interior space. Distinguished by dramatic architectural volume, luminous interiors, and a spectacular double-height living room overlooking a private garden, the home offers a rare combination of scale, light, and architectural presence seldom found in Manhattan townhouses. A rare convergence of art, architecture, and family history, the residence was acquired by iconic tastemaker Barbara Jakobson in 1965 and remained her primary home for nearly six decades, evolving into one of New York's most quietly influential private cultural interiors.

Originally constructed in 1910 and expanded in 1956 by architect John Kingsland, the house has long attracted creative life. For nearly a decade it was home to legendary filmmaker Elia Kazan, who lived here while directing cinematic classics including East of Eden and Splendor in the Grass. During those years, figures such as James Dean, Natalie Wood, Warren Beatty, Marlon Brando, and Vivien Leigh were among the notable visitors who passed through its doors. Later, under Jakobson's stewardship, the house continued to serve as an informal salon for the art and literary worlds, welcoming luminaries including Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol, Cy Twombly, Philip Roth, and Umberto Eco.

On East 74th Street, the home is immediately recognizable by its distinctive red lacquer doors and the beloved bronze squirrel sculptures created by sculptor Jane Canfield-a charming detail that has long earned the property the neighborhood nickname "The Squirrel House." Installed during the ownership of underwater explorer and department-store heir Peter Gimbel, the whimsical figures quickly captured the imagination of generations of neighborhood children.

Inside, the house unfolds with a sense of grandeur and architectural theatre. A dramatic entry hall with triple arches and custom wallpaper designed by artist Peter Halley leads to a warm and inviting den with fireplace overlooking the spectacular double-height living room-an unforgettable first impression that is truly a "wow moment".

With ceilings rising approximately 19 feet, the living room reveals an extraordinary architectural volume rarely encountered in private homes. Bathed in natural light from a skylight above and framed by soaring brick walls, the room possesses the scale and presence of a private gallery. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the tranquil 350-square-foot garden, creating a striking visual connection between the dramatic interior and outdoor spaces.

The room is an art collector's dream and an exceptional setting for entertaining. Guests arrive in unforgettable fashion, descending the graceful curved staircase that sweeps elegantly into the living room, creating a theatrical and memorable entrance. The space effortlessly accommodates large-scale works of art while remaining warm and inviting for gatherings both intimate and grand. Off the living room is a large dining area which leads to the kitchen.

Natural light fills the home from both exposures. South-facing rooms are bright and cheerful, capturing sunlight throughout the day, while north-facing rooms enjoy soft, even light with views of treetops and open sky, creating a serene and welcoming atmosphere. Throughout the remainder of the home, ceiling heights remain generous, with approximately 10-foot ceilings on the principal floors and 9.2-foot ceilings on the top level, lending the interiors a sense of openness and classic townhouse proportion across all five stories. In total, the residence offers over eight bedrooms, six and a half bathrooms, and multiple possible configurations, allowing future owners to adapt the home to a wide range of lifestyles while preserving its remarkable character.