A Hangar Door Opens Up This Long Island Beach House to the Atlantic
A three-ton hangar door lifts to invite ocean breezes into this resilient, beachfront home.
Surfer vibes go minimal in this award-winning, beachfront home designed by New York–based West Chin Architects. Situated on a narrow corner lot in a Long Island neighborhood, the home is clad in cedar with a low-pitched roof that protects from the summer sun and ushers in winter warmth. One hundred pilings and a vertical, concrete wall anchor the home soundly from the threat of Atlantic hurricanes.
While this may look like a typical beach house from the outside with cedar siding and a low-pitched roof, a surprise awaits on the beachfront side of the home. A garage-style glass door opens at the touch of a button to welcome the salty sea breeze and plenty of sunlight.
West Chin Architects & Interior Designers
This relatively narrow home—only 100 feet long and 60 feet wide—boasts 5,500 square feet of living space, oriented for the best views. The overarching goal for this property was to create a home in which most rooms optimized the location of being on the ocean, says West Chin, the project’s designer and principal architect.
A 26-foot-wide, 3-ton airport glass hangar door opens the living room to the Atlantic Ocean. The enormous structure was custom-made for the home, designed to raise at the touch of a button to let the ocean breeze permeate every corner of the home.
West Chin Architects & Interior Designers
Sunlight permeates this long, narrow home. The homeowners wanted to incorporate minimalist design aspects and neutral colors throughout to allow natural light to be the main focus.
West Chin Architects & Interior Designers
The main living space enjoys unfettered ocean views thanks to the beachfront location and the open glass door. Materials used in the home are decidedly weatherproof, like the travertine floors, the concrete thermal mass wall that runs the length of the home, and even the hardware on most of the furniture. Glass railings along the patio cut down on blowing sand and provide a measure of safety.
West Chin Architects & Interior Designers
Shop the Look
Knoll Bertoia Barstool with Seat Pad
With his iconic seating collection, Harry Bertoia transformed industrial wire rods into a new furniture form. The events that made this work possible began a decade earlier at Cranbrook Academy of Art, when Bertoia met Florence Knoll (then Florence Schust). Years later, the Italian-born designer was invited to work for Florence and her husband, Hans Knoll. Bertoia was given the freedom to work on whatever suited him, without being held to a strict design agenda, and the result of this arrangement was the Bertoia Seating Collection (1952). Featuring a delicate filigreed appearance that’s supremely strong, these airy seats are sculpted out of steel rods. In his art, Bertoia experimented with open forms and metal work, and these chairs were an extension of that work. “If you look at the chairs, they are mainly made of air, like sculpture,” said Bertoia. “Space passes through them.” After designing his seating collection, Bertoia returned to focusing mostly on sculpture. This is the authentic Bertoia Stool produced by Knoll. The Knoll logo is stamped into its base. Stool made in Italy; seat pad made in U.S.A. Photo courtesy of Knoll
ShopSecto Design Octo 4240 Pendant, Walnut
The Octo lamp, designed by Seppo Koho for Secto Design, has a wooden shade which is hand-made from Finnish birch by highly skilled craftsmen. As the other Secto Design lamps by Seppo Koho, also the Octo lamp is well-known outside Finland as well for its clear Scandinavian feel.
ShopThis light, airy, state-of-the-art kitchen sits at the front of the home, looking into the living area. Gaggenau appliances pair with a dramatic, stainless-steel oven hood. A bright yellow wall sculpture by Brad Howe channels the sun, adding visual interest, while white Corian countertops keeps the space feeling sleek.
West Chin Architects & Interior Designers
The family desired a modern, minimalist aesthetic, with family-friendly features like a playroom and comfortable seating. Versatile, sturdy, cross-laminated structural wood slabs from Austria run through the interior, and travertine floors easily withstand daily exposure to the salty sea breeze and sand that comes with the open hangar door.
Floor-to-ceiling windows are seen throughout the home, providing ample natural light. In the playroom, eggplant-colored seating and area rug add a touch of whimsy to this otherwise neutral-toned space.
West Chin Architects & Interior Designers
Furthering the sense of unity between indoors and out is the incredible shower in the master suite, which has a retractable glass ceiling. Stacked river pebbles and a travertine floor complete the peaceful aesthetic.
Thousands of river pebbles are stacked to create a unique look in this shower in the master suite. Boffi pipe shower fixtures lend an industrial look.
West Chin Architects & Interior Designers
This award-winning home by New York–based West Chin Architects is situated on a narrow corner lot in a Long Island neighborhood. The cedar-clad residence features a garage-style glass door that opens to welcome the salty sea breeze from the neighboring beach.
West Chin Architects & Interior Designers
Related Reading: Long Island Summer Home Gets a Modern Addition
Project Credits:
Architect: West Chin Architects and Interior Designers / @wca_nyc
Interior Design: West Chin Architects and Interior Designers
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