Bay Ridge Gingerbread House

Front. lampbane (Atlas Obscura User)

Not far from the western shore of Brooklyn sits an unusual house. The exterior is designed out of uncut stone and the asphalt roof undulates like rolling hills, appropriate given that the house was built to conform to the land it was constructed on.

The Gingerbread House was designed by James Sarsfield Kennedy and completed in 1917. Kennedy designed other structures in Brooklyn including the Picnic House in Prospect Park and several homes throughout Prospect Park South. But none had the whimsical nature of the home he built for Howard and Jessie Jones.

The house embraced the Arts and Crafts style fully, not just going back to “traditional” and “handmade” materials but embracing a rustic aesthetic for the exterior. The interior was more modern, with Craftsman-style decor and even a garage turntable that ensured any car parked inside always faced front.

The house also has a large garden and patio, and was declared a New York City landmark in 1988. The property was put up for sale from 2009 to 2017 for around $12 million.

Know Before You Go

The house stands on the northwest corner of Narrows Avenue and 83rd Street, across from Fort Hamilton High School. The nearest subway is the R train at 86th Street and 4th Avenue.