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.
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.
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.
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.
This 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.
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.
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.
