Wednesday, May 29, 2013

'Beacon Towers' Aerial

An aerial of 'Beacon Towers', the Alva Vanderbilt Belmont estate designed by Hunt & Hunt c. 1917 in Sands Point.  Click HERE and HERE for more on 'Beacon Towers'.  Photo from The Vanderbilt Cup Races.

11 comments:

magnus said...

I assume that the gatehouse is the small building to the right. Does anyone know if the gardens pictured to the left of it were part of the property? My guess is that like any self respecting estate of its era, the property boasted the requisite vegetable gardens, cutting gardens and greenhouses, but I have never seen them pictured.

Old Grey Dog said...

The building on the right is the garage ~ the chimney of the Gatehouse is just visible in the very center of the photo. That would be the public road that takes a turn. I'm thinking that the gardens visible are part of anoather property across the road. Surely someone will be able to identify the property in another comment.

Anonymous said...

A fantastic aerial view of the full entrance area plus the mansion itself. The gardens should belong to Beacon Towers as the walls and wonderful ironwork details all match on both sides of the road, plus it is a great idea to view a garden as one is departing from the property throuogh the gatehouse. The garden area today has been developed as an actual entrance drive leading to a new house. Great photo.
Archibuff

Old Grey Dog said...

Thank you, Archibuff ~ I see it now ! The inner, battlemented, garden walls and garden 'houses' echo that which flanks the front steps of Beacon Towers itself ! And, YES, it makes a wonderful vista for anyone leaving the property by the main gates. Thanks for pointing it out !

Charles said...

There is an interesting clip from CBS News that showcases an architectural team who are building buildings in NYC with old materials in old styles. They predict that this is the wave of the future- a renewed appreciation for what everyone who loves this site aoppreciates. Let's hope so.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-3445_162-57585020/the-newest-thing-in-architecture-something-old/

Anonymous said...

Charles:

You bring out an excellent point. All over Long Island, Palm Beach and many other old estate enclaves an incredible phenomenon is taking place. Grand new mansions - not "McMansions" - are being built and designed to look old. That brings me to my point regarding the Beacon Towers site. A magnificent new French Chateau has recently been built on this property - not on the exact site of Beacon Towers, which faced east, but just a tad bit to the left of the photo, attached to the lighthouse and facing north. Architecturally, it blends in superbly with the two surviving Beacon Towers outbuildings, so much so that one unfamiliar with the property would think that it was the original house. Indeed, the new chateau genuinely looks as if it were built during the Gilded Age or the 20s. The lighthouse (which had already been enlarged into a mansion sized residence) was incorporated into the house, becoming the east wing. Another wing (with a turret matching that on the old garage building) was added on the west side to balance the lighthouse wing. With the two wings the house is equal in size to that of a 50 or 60 room Gold Coast oldie. It is definitely a worthy successor to Beacon Towers. Also, check out the new Petite Trianon inspired villa on the site of Shoremound in Centre Island (it looks a lot like Knollwood), The immense new tudor on equally immense acreage in Old Westbury (Wheatly Rd. and Whitney) as well as the exquisitely detailed tudor further down on Wheatley, next to Knole. There are numerous others as well. If they keep building these "new-old" mansions faster than they demolish the old ones there could be, in two generations time, as many grand estates on Long Island as during the 20s (albeit with much smaller acreage). It is amazing what lower income and inheritance taxes can do - at least when the beneficiaries have good taste. As the song says, everything old ins new again. Titanic Bill

Anonymous said...

wowza! What a place. Love love love it!

Anonymous said...

Crazy place, find it more as an amusement than a home.

Jen Ross said...

WOW Z I have just seen this! Amazing shot thank you for sharing it! Cheers! Jen Ross

Jen Ross said...

Wow Zack great find!!! thanks so much! I just saw this... lovely!

Jen Ross said...

wow thanks Zach... amazing find!