A Long Island residence where vernacular gables and natural finishes support a measured approach to sustainable architecture
Project Overview
In Amagansett, New York, Bates Masi + Architects designed a family house that reinterprets local agricultural forms through a contemporary lens. Interconnected gabled volumes reference the region’s barns, while weathered wood shingles and bands of thatch articulate the facade. Breezeways, exterior paving that continues indoors, and a landscape keyed to historic pasture patterns connect daily life to the site—an approach aligned with sustainable architecture without resorting to overt technological display.
The exterior showcases interconnected gabled forms and a swimming pool.
The project’s exterior and planting strategy calibrate privacy, views, and movement across a property located between meadow and woodland. A related Amagansett project by the same studio, Interwoven Traditions, follows comparable vernacular cues, underscoring the practice’s ongoing regional research.
Site and Urban Context
Set between open meadow and woodland, the site once formed part of communal grazing lands. The planting design indexes that history by organizing zones akin to former pasture parcels. Grasses of varying height rise and fall to screen areas, frame views, and choreograph arrival; along the entry, elevated grasses lift to eye level, tightening focus before releasing to broader landscape views.
Design Concept
The massing assembles a series of gabled forms to echo local barns without imitation. Their proportions and adjacencies are contemporary, with carved breezeways linking volumes to create outdoor rooms and moments of transition. Facade composition layers textured shingles with thatch set between exposed exterior framing, yielding a tactile contrast against disciplined openings. For another study in indoor–outdoor transition, see Bamboo Pathways.
Spatial Organization
Circulation threads through breezeways and covered thresholds, reinforcing a continuous relationship between interior and landscape. Public zones concentrate around outdoor living: a covered lounge anchored by an oversized fireplace and a quiet daybed terrace overlooking the pool establish distinct gathering and retreat areas. Inside the open-plan living space, a long built-in bench extends seating and visually links to the adjacent outdoor rooms.
Vertical movement is handled by a wood stair with concealed lighting, adding a precise sculptural element without interrupting the calm material palette. Private rooms take advantage of the steep roof geometry; in the main bedroom, the roofline admits generous daylight while preserving a restrained atmosphere.
Materials and Facade
The enclosure combines weathered wood shingles with traditional thatch infill installed between exposed framing members, reinforcing the barn referent while reading as distinctly contemporary. Black window frames sharpen apertures against oak millwork, clay tiles, plaster finishes, and gray stone in the kitchen. This limited palette builds continuity from exterior envelope to interior surfaces and fixtures.
The kitchen area showcases a combination of modern surfaces and wooden features.
Light and Climate in Sustainable Architecture
Steep roof pitches produce tall interior volumes, while strategic cuts along roof ridges admit daylight deep into the plan. Breezeways modulate sun and wind at thresholds and encourage air movement between linked volumes. Landscape zoning with tall and low grasses further tempers exposure, shaping microclimates across outdoor living areas. For a regional counterpart emphasizing natural material strategies, see Modular Harmony in East Hampton.
Large windows open the space to natural light and views of the outdoor area.
Design Highlights
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Interconnected Gabled Volumes Reinterpret Local Barn Forms Without Literal Replication.
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Facade Combines Weathered Wood Shingles With Thatch Infill Set Between Exposed Exterior Framing.
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Breezeways With Continuous Paving and Siding Link Volumes and Form Outdoor Rooms.
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Planting Zones Echo Historic Pasture Parcels, With Varied Grass Heights Shaping Privacy and Views.
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Strategic Ridge Cuts Bring Daylight Deep Into Tall Interior Volumes Created By Steep Roof Pitches.
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Outdoor Program Centers On A Covered Lounge With An Oversized Fireplace and A Poolside Daybed Terrace.
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Interior Palette of Oak, Clay Tiles, Plaster, and Gray Stone Balanced By Black Framed Openings.
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Wood Stair With Integrated Lighting Provides Refined Vertical Circulation.
Key Facts
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Project | Amagansett House |
| Architect | Bates Masi + Architects |
| Location | Amagansett, New York, USA |
| Program | Single-family house with outdoor living areas and pool |
| Main Materials | Weathered wood shingles, thatch, exposed timber framing, oak, clay tile, plaster, glass, gray stone |
| Status | Built |
| Keywords | sustainable architecture, residential architecture, modern architecture |
Frequently Asked Questions
What materials define the facade strategy?
A combination of weathered wood shingles and traditional thatch installed between exposed exterior framing establishes a layered, textural facade that references local barns while remaining contemporary.
How do the breezeways function in the overall layout?
They link the gabled volumes with continuous paving and siding, forming outdoor rooms, easing circulation between program zones, and mediating light and airflow at key thresholds.