A Rare Peek Inside Coolwater, the Storied Connecticut Compound That’s Captivated Generations of Designers and Architects

A Rare Peek Inside Coolwater, the Storied Connecticut Compound That’s Captivated Generations of Designers and Architects

The exterior of Coolwater, an estate with a vibrant history and a cult following in Norfolk, Connecticut . Every house tells a story of its inhabitants, but very few tell the stories of generations. Coolwater is a large property near a small lake in Norfolk, Connecticut. It belongs to the Childs family, who have lived in Norfolk for more than a century, and still do. On a hot summer day, siblings Starling Winston Childs and Elizabeth Gill—now th…