Ang pambihirang tirahang ito ay idinisenyo bilang isang lugar kung saan maaaring lumayo sandali sa buhay-lungsod nang hindi naman tunay na napapalayo rito—at sa loob ng dalawang dekada, iyon mismo ang naging papel nito.

Pasadyang idinisenyo at itinayo noong 2004 bilang ikalawang tahanan at malikhaing espasyo para sa mga orihinal na may-ari, naging pinakakilala at pinakanatatanging arkitektural na tahanan ito sa Rockaway. May double-height na pangunahing sala na binibigyang-diin ng napakataas na 22-talampakang kisame, mga dingding na may malalaking double window, at isang maliwanag at bukas na loft na may lawak na 850 square feet. Naging kasiya-siya ito bilang pangunahing tirahan, gayundin bilang paboritong lokal na lugar para sa mga eksibisyon ng sining, pagtatanghal ng musika, mga fitness class, at di-mabilang na salu-salo, networking event, at photo shoot.

Maingat na pinahusay ng kasalukuyang mga may-ari ang tahanang ito na madaling alagaan, at ang malawakang pagkukumpuni at mga pagpapahusay sa katatagan matapos ang Hurricane Sandy ay higit pang nagpatibay sa pambihira na nitong pagkakagawa. Ngayon ay nababalutan ito ng galvanized steel at nakataas nang 9 na talampakan mula sa lupa. Pinatatatag ang estruktura ng mga kongkretong haligi at isang steel I-beam, at pinoprotektahan ng isang commercial-grade na fire suppression system. Hindi lamang ito isang kapansin-pansing bahay; isa itong maingat na itinayong ari-ariang baybayin na may tibay at malayong pag-iisip na naghihiwalay dito sa lahat ng iba pa.

Mahigit 1,200 square feet ng espasyo sa ground level sa ilalim ng bahay ang lumulutas sa isa sa pinakamalalaking hamon ng pamumuhay malapit sa dalampasigan at lungsod: imbakan. May taas na 8 talampakan, nakasarang workshop, storage shed, mga rack para sa surfboard, at sapat na bukas na espasyo, kaya may lugar para sa mga board, bisikleta, kasangkapan, gamit sa dalampasigan, at marami pang iba.

Pinag-isipan din nang mabuti ang pamumuhay na pinagsasama ang loob at labas, sa pamamagitan ng maluwag na back deck, tahimik at magandang tanawing bakuran sa likod, at pana-panahong outdoor shower na may mainit at malamig na tubig upang maging madali ang paglipat mula sa dalampasigan patungo sa tahanan. Ang isang hiwalay na estrukturang hindi nakakabit sa pangunahing bahay, na kasalukuyang ginagamit bilang rehearsal studio, ay nagdaragdag ng panibagong antas ng malikhaing at praktikal na posibilidad.

Matatagpuan sa isa sa mga pinakanais na bloke ng Rockaway Beach, nag-aalok ang tahanan ng pambihirang balanse: malapit ang karagatan at boardwalk; ang Jamaica Bay, Bay Breeze Park, at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge ay nag-aanyaya ng araw-araw na pakikipag-ugnayan sa malawak na tubig, mga hayop-ilang, at payapang baybaying may mababang densidad ng populasyon. Pinananatili namang abot-kamay ng kalapit na Wall Street Ferry, mga subway, at bus ang trabaho, kultura, at buhay-lungsod ng Manhattan. May karagdagang potensiyal na mapagtayuan na humigit-kumulang 800 square feet na FAR (mangyaring kumonsulta sa inyong arkitekto), kaya ang tahanang ito ay may matatag nang kasaysayan at sapat na puwang upang patuloy na umunlad.

Hindi lamang ito mas malaki o mas dramatikong alternatibo sa mga kalapit na bahay. Isa itong pasadyang itinayo, subok na, at matatag na compound sa baybayin—may kasaysayan ng pagkamalikhain, komunidad, at ugnayan—na wala nang ibang katulad saanman.

This remarkable residence was conceived as a place to step out of city life without stepping away from it, and for two decades, it has been just that.

Custom designed and built as a second home and creative space for its original owners in 2004, it has become Rockaway’s most iconic and architecturally distinctive home. With a double-height great room framed by soaring 22-foot ceilings, walls of oversized double windows, plus an 850 square foot bright and open loft, it has been enjoyed as both a primary residence and the local go-to setting for art exhibitions, music performances, fitness classes, and countless parties, networking events, and photo shoots.

The current owners have thoughtfully upgraded this low maintenance home, and extensive repairs and resiliency improvements following Hurricane Sandy reinforced its already exceptional construction. Now clad in galvanized steel and raised 9 feet above grade, the structure is reinforced with concrete columns, a steel I-beam, and protected by a commercial-grade fire suppression system. Not merely a striking house, this is a thoughtfully built coastal property with the durability and foresight that distinguish it from everything else.

Over 1,200 square feet of space on the ground level below the home solves one of the greatest challenges of beach and city living: storage. With 8 feet of clearance height, an enclosed workshop, storage shed, surfboard racks, and plenty of open space, there’s room to store boards, bikes, tools, beach gear, and everything else.

Indoor-outdoor living is equally considered with a spacious back deck, tranquil and beautifully-landscaped backyard, and seasonal hot-and-cold outdoor shower to make the transition from beach to home effortless. A separate freestanding structure, currently a rehearsal studio, adds another layer of creative and functional possibility.

Situated on one of Rockaway Beach’s most desirable blocks, the home offers a rare balance: the ocean and boardwalk are nearby; Jamaica Bay, Bay Breeze Park, and the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge invite daily contact with open water, wildlife, and low-density coastal calm. The nearby Wall Street Ferry, subways, and buses keep Manhattan work, culture, and city life within reach. With additional buildable potential of approximately 800 square feet of FAR (please consult your architect), this is a home with both an established legacy and room to evolve.

This is not simply a larger or more dramatic alternative to nearby homes. It is a custom-built, proven, resilient coastal compound with a history of creativity, community, and connection, one not found anywhere else.