Modern Style

Situated atop a dune across from Lake Michigan in Beverly Shores, the International-style Horner House cuts a striking silhouette. Designed by Swiss architect Otto Kolb for Imre and Maria Horner in 1949, the property has only had two owners since its creation. Now on the market for $924,900, the property is ready for an owner who appreciates its forward-thinking design and rich architectural legacy.

Born in Switzerland, Otto Kolb (1921-1996) was first trained as a bricklayer and later evolved into an internationally recognized designer and architect. Kolb worked for many years in Europe and gained fame for his design work. He immigrated to America in 1948 to head the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) – Institute of Design.

Kolb’s tenure at IIT was brief but eventful. Before he moved to the East Coast in 1951, Kolb taught, designed furniture and lighting, divorced his first wife, married a second, and, in 1949, received his first American commission from two Hungarian emigrants who wanted a lake house in the tiny enclave of Beverly Shores, Indiana.

Imre and Maria Horner left their homeland in 1939 to escape rising antisemitism, settling in Chicago where Imre worked as an internist. Their home became a gathering place for intellectuals and scientists, an atmosphere they hoped to recreate when they commissioned Kolb to design an Indiana vacation home.

To avoid disturbing the nearby dune, Kolb cantilevered the living room over a ravine, employing walls of glass and natural materials in an open layout that maximizes views of the nearby lake and a wooded ravine. Clad in unstained redwood with simple cork floors and plywood ceilings and walls, the home exemplifies Kolbs’ philosophy of keeping materials simple and not wasting resources. Today, the house remains one of the renowned architect’s few American commissions.

Imre Horner died in 1988, but Maria continued to entertain at the home until the mid-1990s before she passed away in 1998 at the age of 91. The house was listed in the National Register of Historic Places In 1996. Long-time preservation advocate, Mid-Century Modern enthusiast, and Indiana Landmarks supporter Jim Morrow purchased the house in 1998, living there until he passed away in 2022 at the age of 99. Morrow bequeathed this home to Indiana Landmarks, trusting us to find an owner who will respect its architecture.

The Horner House will be sold with preservation covenants to ensure its long-term preservation. For more information or to request a showing, visit coldwellbanker.com.