Townhouse Inside Infamous ‘Spaceship’ Lands on the Market in Connecticut for $780K

A townhouse that is nestled in a futuristic copper-clad Connecticut building that has been nicknamed "The Spaceship" has flown onto the market for $779,000, 40 years after the unique structure was completed.

The building, which sits on concrete stilts and was designed to resemble a vessel hovering in midair, was the brainchild of architect Wilfred Armster, who sparked furious controversy with the design, with locals fearing it would be a blight on a landscape otherwise filled with classic New England-style colonials.

However, in the years since it was completed, the Guilford, CT, property has become something of a local legend with dwellings inside the structure, which is now known as the Whitfield Shore condominiums, coming to market only a handful of times.

"Six years ago was the last time a unit sold there and the building only has 13 units," said listing agent Susan Santoro of William Pitt Sotheby's International Realty.

Santoro notes that, in addition to the property's reputation as an architectural gem, its location is also a major draw for buyers, explaining: "A lot of that has to do with the buyer who wants to live downtown and enjoy the walkability the home offers. You can walk to the train, to dinner, shopping, or to the beach."

It also also ideally sited just steps from the historic Henry Whitfield House, New England’s oldest stone house, and offers jaw-dropping views of the Long Island Sound.

The front-facing residence boasts 1,672 square feet of sun-soaked space.

"This unit faces Long Island Sound, so you can watch the moon rise, sun set, and enjoy views of the Sound right from bed," Santoro said.

The two-level layout features a 20-foot sunken great room with double-sided fireplace and floor-to-ceiling glass framing the surrounding water views. Hardwood floors, exposed beam ceilings, and expansive windows can be found throughout the home.

A sleek white kitchen with custom cabinetry, breakfast bar, and stainless steel appliances overlooks the dining area with fireplace.

Offered as a one-bedroom unit, Santoro says an open area upstairs could also be used for additional sleeping space.

The property last traded hands in 2015 when the sellers purchased it for $342,000.

"They live in Manhattan and used it as a weekend getaway-type place," Santoro said. "The sellers put in an all-new HVAC system, and it also has natural gas and city water, which is unusual."

Santoro says while her client used the home as a secondary residence, there are many owners who live there full time.

"Almost everyone there uses their home as a primary residence," she said.

An upstairs primary suite offers a walk-in closet, jetted soaking tub, and glass doors that open up to a private sundeck providing unobstructed views of Long Island Sound and the neighboring marina.

Santoro believes the next buyer could be a retiree or it might also be a student due to its close proximity to a variety of colleges and universities.

"There are five colleges within a 10-mile radius," she said. "It would also be a great spot for a university professor."

The townhouse boasts an oversized two-car garage offering extra storage space that could be transformed into a home office, fitness center, or workshop.

"What is really deceiving is there is a four-car tandem garage," she noted. "It's considered a two-car garage, but is deep enough for four cars."

Santoro believes the building's unique design is what will appeal to the next buyer seeking untraditional accommodations.

"I think it looks like a building hovering over the landscape," she noted. "It's so iconic and has such a great design. Love it or hate it, people are always going to talk about it."