Makazi haya ya kipekee yalibuniwa kuwa mahali pa kujitenga na maisha ya mjini bila kuyaacha kabisa—na kwa miongo miwili, yamekuwa hivyo hasa.

Yalibuniwa na kujengwa mahususi mwaka 2004 kama nyumba ya pili na sehemu ya ubunifu kwa wamiliki wake wa awali, na tangu wakati huo yamekuwa makazi mashuhuri zaidi na yenye upekee mkubwa wa usanifu huko Rockaway. Yana sebule kuu yenye urefu wa ghorofa mbili, iliyozungukwa na dari zinazoinuka futi 22, kuta zenye madirisha makubwa ya jozi, pamoja na roshani ya ndani yenye nafasi ya futi za mraba 850 iliyojaa mwanga na iliyo wazi. Yamefurahiwa kama makazi ya kudumu na pia kama sehemu inayopendwa na wenyeji kwa maonyesho ya sanaa, maonesho ya muziki, madarasa ya mazoezi ya viungo, pamoja na sherehe, hafla za kujuana kikazi na upigaji picha usiohesabika.

Wamiliki wa sasa wameboresha nyumba hii inayohitaji matunzo machache kwa umakini, na marekebisho makubwa pamoja na maboresho ya uimara yaliyofanywa baada ya Kimbunga Sandy yameimarisha zaidi ujenzi wake ambao tayari ulikuwa wa kiwango cha juu. Sasa imefunikwa kwa chuma kilichopakwa zinki na kuinuliwa futi 9 kutoka usawa wa ardhi. Muundo wake umeimarishwa kwa nguzo za zege na boriti ya chuma yenye umbo la I, na unalindwa na mfumo wa kuzima moto wa kiwango cha kibiashara. Hii si nyumba ya kuvutia tu; ni makazi ya pwani yaliyojengwa kwa umakini, yenye uimara na maandalizi ya kimbele yanayoitofautisha na mengine yote.

Nafasi ya zaidi ya futi za mraba 1,200 iliyo kwenye usawa wa ardhi chini ya nyumba hutatua mojawapo ya changamoto kubwa za maisha ya ufukweni na mjini: uhifadhi wa vitu. Ikiwa na nafasi ya juu ya futi 8, karakana iliyofungwa, kibanda cha kuhifadhia vitu, vihifadhi vya mbao za kuteleza mawimbini na nafasi kubwa iliyo wazi, kuna nafasi ya kuhifadhi mbao za kuteleza, baiskeli, zana, vifaa vya ufukweni na vitu vingine vyote.

Maisha ya ndani na nje yamepangwa kwa umakini vilevile: kuna sitaha pana ya nyuma, ua wa nyuma tulivu na uliopambwa kwa mandhari nzuri, pamoja na bomba la mvua la nje la maji ya moto na baridi linalotumika kwa msimu, ili kufanya kutoka ufukweni na kuingia nyumbani kuwe rahisi. Jengo tofauti lililosimama peke yake, ambalo kwa sasa linatumika kama studio ya mazoezi ya muziki, linaongeza uwezekano mwingine wa ubunifu na matumizi.

Nyumba hii iko kwenye mojawapo ya mitaa inayotamaniwa zaidi ya Rockaway Beach, na inatoa uwiano adimu: bahari na njia ya matembezi ya ufukweni viko karibu; Jamaica Bay, Bay Breeze Park na Hifadhi ya Wanyamapori ya Jamaica Bay hutoa fursa za kila siku za kufurahia maji ya wazi, wanyamapori na utulivu wa pwani isiyo na msongamano mkubwa. Feri ya Wall Street iliyo karibu, treni za chini ya ardhi na mabasi huifanya kazi, utamaduni na maisha ya Manhattan kufikika kwa urahisi. Kwa uwezekano wa ziada wa kujenga takriban futi za mraba 800 za FAR (tafadhali wasiliana na mbunifu wako), hii ni nyumba yenye historia imara na nafasi ya kuendelea kubadilika.

Hii si tu nyumba kubwa zaidi au ya kuvutia zaidi kuliko zilizo karibu. Ni makazi ya pwani yaliyojengwa mahususi, yaliyothibitisha uimara wake na yenye historia ya ubunifu, jumuiya na mshikamano—aina ya makazi ambayo huwezi kupata mahali pengine popote.

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.