Image courtesy of Press/Cuozzo Commercial Services.

A landmark mansion in Hamden remodeled by legendary modernist Eero Saarinen has been sold for $1.75 million.

The house, called “Lucerne,” was designed by architects Brown and Von Beren and built in 1906 for tobacco magnate Frederick D. Grave. Grave, a German immigrant who came to America in 1861, learned the cigar trade, and in 1884, founded his own company, F.D. Grave & Son on State Street in New Haven.

Prominent architect Eero Saarinen remodeled the mansion and built the rear addition during the 1960s and used it as his office. “Lucerne” most recently housed the offices of Kevin Roche and John Dinkeloo & Assoc. Founded in 1966, Roche Dinkeloo has engaged in major projects throughout the United States, Europe and Asia and provided complete master planning, architectural design, interior design and construction administration services.

The Grave Mansion, Hamden’s only castle, sits on a hill with Lake Whitney forming a moat at its foot. It is a significant landmark example of America’s fascination with Gothic architecture and reflects the wealth and social prominence of its first owner

Stephen Press of Press/Cuozzo Commercial Services was the sole broker representing the Roche and Dinkeloo Family Partnerships on the sale, and procured the buyer, Hamden Hall Country Day School.

Hamden Hall Country Day School will renovate the 18,000-square-foot building on 3.28 acres into its new Lower School Campus. Hamden Hall is a private day school in Hamden, educating students of all genders in preschool through grade 12. Hamden Hall was founded in 1912 as a country day school for boys by Dr. John P. Cushing, its first headmaster. It was the nation’s fourth country day school.