Beautiful upstate New York mansion with terrarium, indoor domed pool and seven bedrooms goes on sale for $1.9 million
A beautiful New York mansion with an indoor pool and nearly nine acres of woods to explore is on the market for $1.9 million.
The seven-bedroom, six-bathroom home is located at 85 Haights Cross Road in Chappaqua, a quiet hamlet in Westchester County about 40 miles outside the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple.
The 6,814 square meter estate is known as 'The Mechner Residence' and was commissioned by behavioral scientist Francis Mechner and his wife Vicki in the 1960s.
The house was completed in 1969 and hit the market late last year a lucky buyer 'an exceptionally private retreat', according to the mention.
Mechner worked with architect John Koster to create the striking home, drawing inspiration from a car dealership's Plexiglas dome and a neighbor's indoor pool and garden.
A striking mansion in Chappaqua, New York has hit the market for $1.9 million
The house features seven bedrooms, six bathrooms and a terrarium-like indoor pool, complete with a domed glass roof
The house at 85 Haights Cross Road is known as 'The Mechner Residence' after previous owners Francis and Linda Mechner, who designed the house from scratch
The property covers 8.86 hectares of forest and features rock outcroppings that only enhance the log cabin feel.
Mechner and his wife decided to build the house from natural materials such as oak. A stone staircase traverses a hill to the front door.
The cozy living space is accentuated by windows that overlook the surrounding landscape, allowing residents to become one with nature.
Carpeting in the bedrooms and modern kitchen appliances update the home, and several rooms await a new owner's vision.
But the main feature is the unique domed indoor pool, which is located in the heart of the house and surrounded by large windows and glass doors.
The property sits on 8.86 wooded acres in a quiet Westchester County hamlet, a short drive from Chappaqua's Main Street and a golf course.
The house is designed to center around the glass pool, combining indoor and outdoor living
The kitchen features updated appliances, but still retains much of the rustic log cabin feel
Architect John Koster created the home with an 'open living concept' in mind, with gathering and dining areas that flow seamlessly into each other
The pool is surrounded by large windows and glass doors and surrounded by tropical flora
The water is framed by sculpted boulders and fanning palms, with a ladder and a shallow area to assist swimmers.
According to the advertisement, the home is furnished with an 'open living concept' in mind.
This design choice is reflected in the way the kitchen and gathering space lead to a terrace overlooking the property, seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor living.
The two-storey bedroom wing includes a master bedroom suite with a dressing room, an office and an en suite bathroom. Two other bedrooms upstairs share a bathroom.
One floor down there are several additional bedrooms and bathrooms that flow into an open plan living area, providing an ideal space for guests to rest and recharge.
Mechner and his wife decided to build the house with natural materials, oak with stone protrusions
The two-story bedroom wing features a primary suite with a dressing room, office and private bathroom
Updated details like carpeting make the home feel cozier and more inviting
In addition to the main suite, there are two more bedrooms upstairs that share a bathroom. On the level below are several other bedrooms and bathrooms, plus an expansive living room
Mechner described the acres of pristine wilderness as “beautiful, jungle with rocks, crags, precipices and streams.”
'Design. Structure. Nature. Let your creative mind run wild!' reads the list.
Speak with Restrained last month, Mechner explained that he wanted to build a unique home from scratch.
After hearing that fellow academics were buying homes in Westchester designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Mechner decided he wanted a place of his own, but with a twist.
The scientist imagined himself standing in the living room with a tropical garden on one side and an untamed landscape on the other.
“It was wilderness,” Mechner said of the property. 'Beautiful, ancient forest with crags and crags, precipices and streams.'
His wife Linda characterized the estate as 'a great home for introverts'.
“There's a lot of room for people to have their own space and do their own thing,” she explained. 'That much space leaves a lot of room for self-determination.'
The estate is surrounded by equally impressive homes and is a short drive from Main Street and an expansive golf green.
The average sales price of a home in Chapaqqua was approximately $862,000 as of November 2023.