'Cost of architect Thierry Despont's Southampton estate is $19.95M'

The nearly 34-acre luxury Southampton estate owned by the late legendary architect and designer Thierry Despont will soon go on the market for $19.95 million, Gimme Shelter has learned. That's a significant price drop from last year's sale price of $23.5 million.

The work of Thierry Despont

Despont became famous for his work restoring such majestic monuments as the Statue of Liberty and the Carlyle and Woolworth hotels in New York, as well as the Hotel Ritz in Paris. His private clients included such notables as Bill Gates and Calvin Klein. Despont died at the age of 75 on Aug. 13 at his home in Southampton; no cause of death was given. And despite the fact that he hailed from''Limoges, France, his great love belonged to the city of New York itself.

In a 2017 interview with The New Yorker, Despont said: "New York has this sense of freedom and possibility. This mix of cultures and races from around the world. It's a wonderful thing.

An estate in Southampton

The Despont property in Southampton, at 320 Majors Path, includes the former Southampton Riding and Hunt Club building, which dates back to the 1920s. More recently, it housed the Rosewood Farms equestrian and sports complex. Over the years, Despont has converted the estate into a home with a guest house and pool house.

To create this estate, Despont paid between $8.55 million from 2011 to 2013, combining three contiguous lots. From''The property overlooks a 50-acre agricultural preserve.

The six-bedroom main house is a remodeled barn and has a courtyard with a fountain, and the remodeled stable now serves as a pool house next to the infinity pool. An additional barn that was formerly Despont's art studio - he was also a talented painter and sculptor - is now a four-car garage.

"It's one of the most unique properties. What he did with the space is just incredible. He was a true renaissance man," said Paul Brennan of Douglas Elliman, who is listing with brokers Michaela Kessler and Martha Gundersen.

Townhouse in Tribeca

Townhouse'. 'Despona at Tribeca, a 10,000-square-foot, 10,000-square-foot property located at 182 Franklin St., is also listed for sale for $19.49 million, down from the original sale price of $24.99 million in 2021. This Manhattan property is being offered for sale by Rueben Schatz of Douglas Elliman.