$2.5M Hamilton Heights Musée Maison Mixes Historic Charm with a Myriad of Curious Artwork
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$2.5M Hamilton Heights Musée Maison Mixes Historic Charm with a Myriad of Curious Artwork

April 3, 2015

Portuguese-born architect/artist Luis Da Cruz bought the run-down brownstone at 532 West 148th Street in 2006 for $995,000. He then embarked on a complete renovation, turning the three-family home into his own personal playground. Cruz beautifully restored original features of the 1920 house like carved wood stairways and railings, gorgeous moldings, five fireplaces, beamed ceilings, and exposed brick walls. But on that historic canvas he overlaid his signature art pieces made with repurposed objects and decorated the space in an industrial/Victorian mash up. Luis also used the townhouse, dubbed Musée Maison (aptly, Museum House), as his studio and workshop and often hosted art shows there (including trapeze shows in which he participated) where all of the work was for sale. He’s now put the 3,500-square-foot Hamilton Heights house on the market, asking $2.5 million.

Musée Maison, Luis Da Cruz, 532 West 148th Street, Hamilton Heights brownstone

Musée Maison, Luis Da Cruz, 532 West 148th Street, Hamilton Heights brownstone

The listing says the house is “the perfect mix of old and new for that downtown loft feeling in an uptown townhouse,” and we don’t disagree. New touches like plank bamboo and oak flooring, skylights, a claw-foot tub, and a stainless steel kitchen blend seamlessly with the more rustic bones of the residence.

Musée Maison, Luis Da Cruz, 532 West 148th Street, Hamilton Heights brownstone

Musée Maison, Luis Da Cruz, 532 West 148th Street, Hamilton Heights brownstone

A couple of the bedrooms feature untraditional beds–a mattress elevated on squat cork risers and another mattress with its springs exposed and lit from below–and creative room dividers, like the Circus-esque curtain concealing the bathroom and woven strings delineating an office area. According to a 2013 Daily News article, all of the artwork is “raw material culled from construction sites, street corners, junkyards and demolished homes in all five boroughs and lovingly turned into paintings, mobiles, furniture, chandeliers and candelabras.”

Musée Maison, Luis Da Cruz, 532 West 148th Street, Hamilton Heights brownstone

The new owner can choose to rent out the basement apartment, use it as a work space, or make it part of the rest of the four-story home. There’s also a backyard and available air rights.

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[Listing: 532 West 148th Street by Mary B. Mihelic of Stribling]

Photos via Stribling

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All information furnished regarding property for sale, rental or financing is from sources deemed reliable, but no warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy thereof and same is submitted subject to errors, omissions, change of price, rental or other conditions, prior sale, lease or financing or withdrawal without notice. All dimensions are approximate. For exact dimensions, you must hire your own architect or engineer and for no listing shall the number of bedrooms listed be considered a legal conclusion.

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