About
Largely known until recently to just a few, Blau House & Gardens is an extraordinary work of art that reflects the spirit of its creators and the rich artistic legacy of Westport, Connecticut’s mid-20th century era.
The House & Gardens
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Blau Gardens
The gardens were developed over 50 years by advertising executive Barry Blau, who built one of the world’s largest direct marketing firms. Blau, who wrote some of the most memorable ads of the 20th century, understood drama. He developed gardens in response to the house, set below the oaks. He created an intricate and intimate series of interlocking garden rooms, using rhododendrons and a blend of native and exotic plants.
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Alswang House
The house was constructed in 1963 and designed by Ralph Alswang, a theatrical designer of nearly 100 Broadway productions. Alswang saw affinities between modern architecture and barns such as the embrace of minimalism and a rejection of ornament. His design recreates spaces, elements and proportions found in New England barns, and showcases the interior stair with large windows framing dramatic views of the towering oaks outside.
“Art is not produced by one artist, but by several. It is to a great degree the product of their exchange of ideas with one another”
— Max Ernst