Although I noticed a predictable amount of beach-y décor flourishes in the Jersey Shore casts’ new Miami digs (yes, I fully admit to watching the show last night), it looks like Snooki, the Situation, Pauly D, and the gang are missing out on the ultimate in beachside summer rentals: Octavio Ocampo’s Shell House, or Casa Caracol, on Mexico’s Isla Mujeres in the Caribbean Sea.

 

The curious, shell-shaped abode — it’s owned by Ocampo, a renowned artist, but is also rented out to tourists  — takes equal architectural cues from Antoni Gaudí and Spongebob Squarepants. There are no sharp corners, just a fluid, nautical design scheme that extends to the windows, furnishings, and even bathroom fixtures. Although made of concrete, the home also incorporates a fair amount of recycled/reclaimed materials, specifically seashells plucked from local beaches.

The 5,500 square foot Shell House features two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a swimming pool, garden, and some killer ocean views. It’s doubtful that there’s tanning beds, a gym, and a Jagermeister machine on the premises so the Jersey Shore kids are probably out of luck if season three brings them to the Cancun area. But for lovers of unusual, oceanic architecture with eco-cred, the Shell House is the closest they’ll get to truly living, as they say in The Little Mermaid, “under the sea.”

 
Via [Inhabitat], [GreenMuze]