Poles run from floor to ceiling to help guests get around an East Hampton house. The floors are undulating, bumpy and concrete. It looks like a child’s playroom with 52 red, green, blue and yellow colors throughout.
But that’s somewhat of the idea behind the Biocleave house—the home is said to rejuvenate and extend the homeowner’s life. The property owner, currently listed as Professors Group LLC, has recently put it on the market, asking just shy of $2.5 million.
The 3,500-square-foot home is a mix of the original A-frame designed by Harvard architect Carl Koch and a commissioned 2,700-square-foot extension that was designed by “out of the box” artists Madeline Gins and Arakawa. It was built for art collector Angela Gallman, who eventually sold it to the LLC in 2007.
Jose B. DosSantos, a real estate agent from Brown Harris Stevens, is the listing agent.
“They, in effect, created a product that talks to a segment of the population that likes something different but practical and beautiful,” Mr. DosSantos said. “Why be normal when being abnormal is so much better and more fun?”
It’s almost serendipitous that Mr. DosSantos is the one marketing this house for sale. Born and raised in Brazil, Mr. DosSantos sold houses with his grandfather in the dense Amazon rainforests. “We would walk for over two hours to get from village to village and to sell five or 10 houses,” he said.
Mr. DosSantos said the floor of Biocleave reminds him of the rainforest’s uneven terrain.
“We as humans are used to doing the same things over and over again, because we get conditioned to make our lives easier,” he said. “But when you do things differently, your body experiences different movements and those movements will translate into a healthier body and mind, and in the end extend your life.”
There are four bedrooms and 2.5 baths. All of the counters and windows are at various heights throughout the home. Light switches are tucked away in unusual places, just in reach. To get to some cabinets, the resident has to get on all fours.
Mr. DosSantos said it can be tiring, but is worth it in the long run.
“It’s all a power of your mind,” he said. “You control everything by your brain. ... The best thing in life is your mental power.”
As for how long the Biocleave house is expected to extend a homeowner’s life, it’s really unclear. Increased activity and movement with a full-range of motion is said to add 5 to 10 years to a life.
“There is no solution for death,” Mr. DosSantos laughed.