Architectural Icon of the 80s for Sale in Newport

For the last 24 years, Filmmaker and Record Producer Lawrence Kraman has been living inside a work of art in Unit 4 at the Callander School House.

Located in the Point Section of Newport, the home is an example of both the unique and inspired vision of its creator, George Ranalli, who is now the Dean of the School of Architecture at City University in New York City, as well as the rebellious and whimsical style of the 1980s.

“He’s the most famous unknown architect in the world,” Kraman said in an interview. “The day I walked in here with my wife I said ‘I want it’ and she let me get it and I overpaid for it.”

Kraman, in whimsical tones himself, said he understands that selling such a unique property is a challenge.

With so many nooks, angles, balconies and “holes in the wall” you could fall through, it’s not a place for young children or people who don’t feel motivated to walk up a flight of stairs to get to bed.

“It takes two stories to get to the first floor and three to get to the top,” Kraman said.

But the quirks are part of what make the home so remarkable.

The vast openness of the living space can be described as breathtaking, with 27-foot-tall walls, two fireplaces and tremendous amounts of light flooding in through the windows.

And check out the kitchen, which comes complete with a commercial-grade stove, salamander, hood and eating nook next to a large window that looks down at the bustle of the historic Point neighborhood.

And for a better look, just climb on up to the private rooftop terrace for a view of the city that will make your spine tingle and heart soar.

You also get private parking, a wet bar, plenty of storage, beautiful hardwood floors, a cozy office, three full bathrooms, a substantial 2,131 square feet of living space, sauna, air conditioning and along with the convenience of living in the Point Section, a relatively low HOA fee at just $488 per month.

Beyond that, living here means living in a work of art, which will be the focus of nearly every dinner party conversation and guest visit. For prospective buyers that want a home to be reflect something beyond one’s own personal taste, this is it.

While other units in the building have been renovated and modified, this unit has been carefully restored to its original condition.

So why sell?

“We’re not happy selling it, but mainly, it’s because one day soon I’ll be too old to walk up the flights of stairs to live in a work of art,” Kraman said.

Kraman said selling a place like this will take time to find the right buyer. He expects it to be on the market for upwards of two years.

For more information about 11 Willow St., check out this short film by Kraman that includes a detailed interview with none other than George Ranalli himself.

More info:
Address: 11 Willow St., Unit 4
MLS#: 1066780
Price: $697,000
Agent: Connor Dowd, Keller Williams Realty, 401-845-9200