Alan Hassenfeld, former CEO of Hasbro and global philanthropist to children’s causes, assembled this peaceful private sanctuary, inspired by time spent in Asia

New York, New York (May 13, 2020) — The oasis of Shangri-La, located in the quaint enclave of Bristol Highlands, Rhode Island, and 40 minutes from Newport, offers endless water views across Narragansett Bay. Further enhancing the 1.8-acre grounds are a private sandy beach, two organic greenhouses for flowers or farm-to-table vegetables and fruits, a lovely heated infinity pool with pavilion, a Zen garden with koi pond, abundant space for alfresco entertaining or quiet contemplation, plus thoughtful landscaping throughout the estate. Crabbing and fishing is available right off the property.

Four separate buildings offer seven bedrooms and 12 baths. Shangri-La’s name, inspired by James Hilton’s enduring 1933 novel, “Lost Horizon,” and legendary director Frank Capra’s cinematic adaptation, is considered by its owners to indeed be “heaven on earth.”

The estate is being offered for US$8,500,000. Shangri La is represented by Lila Delman Real Estate, the exclusive Affiliate in Rhode Island, with worldwide marketing services provided by Christie’s International Real Estate. There is also the opportunity to negotiate separate parcels of the property for purchase.

As CEO of Hasbro for 15 years, Alan Hassenfeld traveled the globe. In fact, he was in Shanghai when he first received word that the parcel of land that would become his home was for sale. “Shangri La has been my personal sanctuary, assembled over more than 40 years with my wife, Vivien. This is the place where we could escape from the world and fully enjoy family and friends. I have to add that the community is one of the warmest and most caring communities I have ever encountered,” he said.

Ms. Hassenfeld, an interior designer, is a native of the U.K. and spent her childhood in Hong Kong. She infused the estate with her Asian aesthetic of calm simplicity, to include gardens and stand-alone living spaces.

Hasbro has been a family-run company since 1917. Fourteen years prior, three brothers — Herman, Hillel and Henry Hassenfeld — were driven from their native Poland, fleeing the Nazi invasion. They immigrated to America as penniless teenagers who spoke no English. They founded a modest textiles-remnants company in Rhode Island and expanded into the production of pencils and pencil cases. Hillel and Henry took the company into the toy direction, with early successes such as Mr. Potato Head and G.I. Joe. The company expanded, acquiring major competitors, such as Mattel, Playskool and Milton Bradley, for iconic brands such as Nerf and the Monopoly board game. The company also won agreements to produce dolls for the Disney, Star Wars and Marvel Comics franchises.

Infused in the company and family ethos is a commitment to giving back to charitable initiatives in support of children, children’s hospitals and single parents. Corporate Responsibility Magazine rated Hasbro in the top 15 of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens, including number one in 2017. During the current pandemic, Hasbro retooled an entire factory to manufacture some 50,000 face shields a week.

Shangri-La originated as a classic Bristol Highlands cottage. The privacy, beauty and love of community inspired the owners to acquire the neighboring parcels. The single-story main house is notable for its cathedral ceilings accented by timber beams and a series of glass doors opening to an expansive teak lanai. Brick fireplaces abound, and are located in the pampering master suite, the kitchen and, most dramatically, in the living room. Here the two-story fireplace is centered on the A-frame wall and flanked by rectangular windows. Textured walls, exotic woods and soft hues of limestone create a soothing environment. The open floor plan, gourmet kitchen, climate-controlled wine room and butler’s pantry are ideal for entertaining.

The guest house offers two levels of living, with en suite bedrooms on the second floor. In the living room, a series of unobstructed glass windows act as a gallery wall framing the water views. These two homes are connected by the infinity pool and cabana.  

Added in 2007, the Glass House features a soaring two-story great room with the west wall almost entirely of glass. A state-of-the-art kitchen, ideal for entertaining friends and family, is further served by an outdoor deck, which is warmed by a fireplace. The lower level is an expansive guest bedroom suite that opens to an outdoor shower, the greenhouse and koi pond, then the private beach beyond.

A sanctuary of peace and reflection, the Tea House was completed in 2016. Sited at the quietest section of the property, the Japanese-inspired building is distinguished by an enormous veranda ideal for quiet contemplation. The landscape design complements the overall aesthetic with outdoor sculpture gardens and lovely plantings. Another greenhouse provides a bounty of vegetables and flowers. A one-bedroom guest house completes this serene oasis. There is also a fully wired media room in order to connect with the world beyond when so desired.

Bristol Highlands is a welcoming community, once a colony of summer cottages for city dwellers almost a century ago and accessed by train. Today, the residents are primarily full time and the railbed has been converted to a popular bike path. The 100 or so households in the neighborhood can also join the homeowners’ association, which provides a swimming area, clay tennis court, clubhouse, boat dock and mooring. The association also organizes social events year-round, including summer lobster boils and holiday cookouts.

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About Christie’s International Real Estate

Christie’s International Real Estate has successfully marketed high-value real estate around the world for more than 30 years. Through its New York City brokerage and invitation-only Affiliate network spanning 49 countries and territories, Christie’s International Real Estate offers incomparable services to a global clientele at the luxury end of the residential property market. The company has offices in London, New York City, Hong Kong, Moscow, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Palm Beach, and its affiliated brokerages have recorded approximately US$500 billion of real estate transactions over the last five years. (Data as of March 31, 2020.) For additional information, please visit christiesrealestate.com.