Address not disclosed Rhinebeck, NY 12572
6 Beds
6 Baths
6,798 SqFt
UPDATED:
Key Details
Property Type Single Family Home
Sub Type Single Family Residence
Listing Status Active
Purchase Type For Sale
Square Footage 6,798 sqft
Price per Sqft $1,249
MLS Listing ID 1054073
Style Modern
Bedrooms 6
Full Baths 5
Half Baths 1
HOA Y/N No
Rental Info No
Year Built 1986
Annual Tax Amount $34,496
Lot Size 21.280 Acres
Acres 21.28
Property Sub-Type Single Family Residence
Source onekey2
Property Description
The late architect Steve Mensch discovered the site in winter and understood its power immediately. Before drawing the house, he spent time there with a cot and drafting table, studying the terrain as the seasons changed. Rather than impose a single monumental structure on the setting, he conceived a collection of four copper-roofed buildings linked by covered walkways and stone paths. The result draws on modernist, Japanese, and Balinese traditions while feeling entirely specific to this place.
Built of steel and cement alongside the dam, the main house turns a familiar floor plan upside down. The kitchen and living spaces occupy the upper level, where fully retractable glass walls open the room to the sight and sound of the falls. The primary suite lies below, followed by two additional guest sleeping areas, with a media room on the ground floor. Throughout, the architecture invites a close connection to the water while maintaining the quiet, contemplative atmosphere Mensch envisioned.
Moving through the property is its own experience. Covered walks and stone paths lead through the landscape to two guest houses, each with a different relationship to the river. One offers a sleeping nook, full bathroom, and covered porch overlooking the water upstream. The other has two bedrooms, a bathroom, full kitchen, living room, and fireplace, creating a comfortable place for extended visits.
A separate three-story building, once used by the original owners as an architecture and painting studio, looks directly toward the waterfall. Its generous proportions and singular setting make it as compelling a place to create as it is to retreat.
The Waterfall House reveals itself gradually: through the quiet of the wooded approach, the paths that wind between its buildings, and the breathtaking moment when the living spaces open to the falls. Across the estate, the sound of rushing water is a constant presence, while each building offers a different way to experience the river and surrounding landscape. The Waterfall House is living art that could never be recreated.
At the end of a long private driveway, the estate feels entirely removed from the bustle of everyday life, yet Rhinebeck Village's restaurants, shops, and galleries are approximately five minutes away. The site of the forthcoming Soho Farmhouse is about 5 minutes away, and Rhinecliff's Amtrak station is less than 10 minutes away, making the property remarkably easy to reach and enjoy.
Location
State NY
County Dutchess County
Rooms
Basement Finished
Interior
Interior Features Built-in Features, Elevator, Entrance Foyer, Kitchen Island, Open Floorplan, Other, Primary Bathroom, Master Downstairs, Soaking Tub, Stone Counters
Heating Electric, Forced Air, Oil, Radiant, Radiant Floor, Other
Cooling Central Air
Flooring Hardwood, Tile
Fireplaces Number 2
Fireplace Yes
Appliance Dishwasher, Dryer, Electric Cooktop, Electric Oven, Refrigerator
Exterior
Parking Features Detached
Garage Spaces 5.0
Utilities Available Electricity Connected, Underground Utilities
Waterfront Description River Front,Water Access,Waterfront
Garage true
Private Pool No
Building
Foundation Other
Sewer Septic Tank
Water Well
Structure Type Other
Schools
Elementary Schools Chancellor Livingston Elementary Sch
Middle Schools Bulkeley Middle School
High Schools Rhinebeck
School District Rhinebeck
Others
Senior Community No
Special Listing Condition None
