Wish you could give the person you love the world? Well, technically you can't. But you can give them a close second -- an 11-acre private island, complete with a Frank Lloyd Wright original cottage and a house inspired by the architect's uncompleted design.
Located just 47 miles north of New York City, Petra Island sits in Lake Mahopac in Putnam County, New York. If you choose to purchase the land, it includes a main 5,000-square-foot residence, a guest cottage (which Wright completed himself) and an artist's studio. And it can be yours for a modest $20 million. Just simply visit AHALife and click "Add To Cart."
When engineer Ahmed Chahroudi bought the island in 1949, he commissioned Wright to build something that would be more impressive than his most famous house, Falling Water. But when Wright created his plans for the home, Chahroudi could not afford the commission. So instead, Wright built only the 1,200-square-foot cottage, leaving the rest of his drawings to sit on paper for years.
Fifty-seven years later, in 1996, retired sheet-metal contractor Joe Massaro bought the island and decided to use Wright's design to complete the main residence. However, the small differences between the finished building and Wright's design and architectural style, such as the boulders jutting out of the walls, domed skylights and chimney caps (all of which Wright purists claim the architect never would have used himself) didn't sit well with Wright experts. The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation actually sued Massaro, but a settlement was made with Massaro agreeing to refer to the house as "inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright" instead of calling it one of the architect's original works.
Whether or not this property is recognized by the foundation and avid Wright supporters as being authentic, its beauty is undeniable. Plus, we think anyone receiving their own private island would somehow find a way to look past the technicalities.
Massaro House On Petra Island
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