3418
Pinestream Road “ The Pink Castle” J. Neel Reid, Circa 1923
In her book Peachtree Road, Anne Rivers Siddons described a “long, curving ... ribbon of asphalt that was the driveway to the Pink Castle.� According to Classic Atlanta: Landmarks of the Atlanta Spirit, The Pink Castle was what Atlantans called the Calhoun-Thornwell Estate. The entrance to the home was marked by Baroque piers on West Paces Ferry modeled after those at the Villa Cuzzano. The land has since been divided, and today these piers mark the entrance to Pinestream from West Paces Ferry. This photo is from J. Neel Reid Architect: of Hentz Reid & Adler and the Georgia School of Classicists.
The home was designed by Hentz, Reid & Adler in the early 1920s when the team included Neil Reid, Philip Shutze, Lewis Crook, Earnest Ivey and James Means. Historians agree Philip Shutze did the lion’s share of the work and it is considered his “first house,” according to this page from House Beautiful in September 1978.
He modeled the house after the Villa Cussano in Verona, Italy, which was designed by Giovanni Battista circa 1650. This photograph is from American Classicist: The Architecture of Philip Trammell Shutze.
These are the original drawings of the front and back facades, from the book American Classicist: The Architecture of Philip Trammell Shutze. You can see the influence of the Villa Cussano, Especially in the rear elevation.
Siddons wrote, “The Pink Castle was a great pile ... of pink stucco and red pantile that lay far out West paces ferry Road ... and had been built vaguely in sixteenth-century Italian style in 1923.” Photo from American Classicist: The Architecture of Philip Trammell Shutze.
In the book J. Neel Reid Architect: of Hentz Reid & Adler and the Georgia School of Classicists, William R. Mitchell, Jr. wrote, “The Calhoun Estate, which was called Tryggveson, included an orchard, a garden, a lake, tennis courts, and formal gardens. This site plan is from American Classicist: The Architecture of Philip Trammell Shutze, shows how the home and gardens were designed on an axis, per the Italian model.
The Calhoun-Thornwell House, 1923 This 16th Century Italian Villa style estate was built in 1923 and originally named “Tryggveson” but all of the history books refer to this at the original “Pink Castle” referenced in the book “Peachtree Road” by Anne Rivers Siddons. It was modeled after two villas Neel Reid visited in Verona, Italy. Even though Neel Reid was the principal architect, the plans and execution of this estate was more of a collaborative effort with Philip Shutze. Lewis Crook, Ernest Ivey and James Means also worked on the project. Neil Reid personally purchased furnishings and historic artifacts for the property in his 1923 trip to Italy. The baroque piers on either entrance to Pinestream off of West Paces Ferry were modeled after piers in Verona, Italy and were part of the original estate which sat on 100 acres.
First Floor
Grande foyer to entrance hall with original mural of “Philemon and Baucis” by Allyn Cox (best known for his completion of the Friezes in the Capitol Rotunda) Powder room with lounge Coat closet formerly men’s restroom Drawing room with marble fireplace and beautiful ornamental plasterwork throughout Screened porch Library with fireplace and wood-inlaid ceiling Formal Dining Room with fireplace and roundel of Michelangelo above
(First Floor Continued:)
Butler’s pantry and kitchen Laundry and mudroom with water closet Breakfast room to covered walkway leading to garage
Second Floor
Five bedroom suites (two of them connected by a large sleeping porch, master has special dressing area, and one bedroom lacks a closet) Four baths Office with original service button
Third Floor
Sewing room Bedroom with full bath Storage rooms
Exterior:
Full apartment over the garage 3 Car garage Terra Cotta tile roof Side entry with greenhouse 1.5 +/- acres
Glennis Beacham 404.261.9036 • 404.261.6300 glennis@beacham.com www.beacham.com This information is believed accurate but is not warranted and is subject to errors, changes, prior sales and withdrawals without notice. Dac Carver, Managing Broker. Equal Housing Opportunity.