"Horace Gifford Beach House Saved by Art-School Friends in Fire Island Pines"

Horace Gifford's iconic 1966 beach house in Fire Island Pines was in danger of being lost forever, but thanks to the efforts of a group of art-school friends, it has been given a new lease on life. August West, who spent summers in the Pines as a child, teamed up with fellow artists to restore and preserve the historic home.

The 1966 beach house, designed by Horace Gifford, had fallen into disrepair over the years and was in danger of being demolished. However, West and his friends stepped in and were given just two months to complete the restoration before the home would be lost forever.

"I grew up in the Pines and this house is a part of my childhood," West said in an interview with The Real Deal. "I couldn't bear to see it gone."

The group of friends, who all have backgrounds in art and design, worked tirelessly to bring the house back to its former glory. They were able to preserve many of the original features, including Gifford's signature bamboo detailing.

While the restoration project was a labor of love, it also highlighted the ongoing struggle between preserving historic homes and the desire for new development in the Fire Island Pines community. The 1966 beach house is just one of many iconic structures in the Pines that have been at risk of being lost to new development.