🎸 Ace Frehley’s Architectural Sanctuary – A Rock Legend’s Retreat 🎸Frehley House
After a decade of electrifying performances and life on the road, Ace Frehley of KISS longed for a place to call home. But how do you create a retreat for a rock icon whose presence is larger than life? Enter George Ranalli Architect, in 1980 tasked with designing a contemporary dwelling—one that was tranquil yet bold, modern yet mystical, and with just the right touch of the psychedelic.
🏡 The Vision
Set against a lush green landscape, the site was transformed into a surreal architectural experience. A river was ingeniously diverted to form a manmade canal, creating a dreamlike setting where water, land, and structure converge. The home itself is hidden in the landscape, accessed through an underground passageway that emerges into a striking cubic composition of stone, glass, and steel—anchored directly into the canal.
💡 Architectural Features:
✨ Subterranean Entrance – A glass-ceiling entry 15 feet below ground floods the space with natural light.
🏊 Home Spa Sanctuary – A tranquil retreat at the heart of the house.
🏡 18-Foot High Courtyard – An open-air court connecting drawing rooms, dining, and living spaces.
🌀 Pyramidal Glass Rooftop – Bringing in shifting daylight and fresh air.
🔺 Triangular Terraces – Expansive outdoor spaces that dissolve the boundary between interior and exterior.
📐 Step-Gable Roof Design – A bold reinterpretation of traditional canal house architecture, adding
