This weekend retreat in Sagaponack nods to a minimalist farmhouse
A weekend retreat in Sagaponack is the perfect Hamptons house, bridging old and new, traditional and contemporary, courtesy of architecture studio Birdseye
Contemporary and modernist architecture, farmland, history and nature meet in The Hamptons, and Lathhouse, a new holiday residence in Sagaponack, is a design that draws on this rich, multi-layered context. The project, created by Vermont-based architecture and construction studio Birdseye, bridges clean, minimalist forms with agricultural references and a natural take – from its sustainable architecture and building systems to its cladding in the warm, tactile materiality of wood. The recently completed home is both subtle and ‘of its place', offering a template for a modern weekend retreat.
‘Lathhouse reflects a purposeful agrarian context, much like a barn in its pastoral setting,' the architects explain. ‘The residence, a two-story gable structure, is oriented east-west overlooking a spacious lawn to the south. The gently sloping topography, coupled with the minimalist pool house, defines the lower lawn, pool, and tennis court areas. The pool house mediates between the pool and tennis court activities. The site perimeter is defined by a continuous privet hedge and anchored by mature deciduous trees.’
As its name suggests, the home’s design was inspired by the eponymous lath house, ‘a traditional gabled farm structure made primarily of wood laths or slats spaced to reduce sunlight while permitting ventilation’, the architects continue. Timber is used in many of the region’s agricultural typologies and it forms a strong part of the identity of this project too. Timber slats cover the walls and roof, but also act as shelter and shading for large openings that help illuminate the interior. At the same time, the texture and colouring of the weathered wood cladding nods to the timeless patina of existing structures in this part of the world.
Inside, a large living space for sitting, relaxing, dining and entertaining is complemented by three generous bedrooms and a wealth of auxiliary spaces – such as a dedicated mudroom and a laundry – across two main levels. An additional floor below ground contains a guest suite, a gym, wine storage, and TV and family room, while the pool house, with its geometric, minimalist pergola, offers another lounge option for residents. Interiors were the work of Brooke Michelsen Design.
This weekend retreat feels contextual and sits softly in its environment. Birdseye’s considered design ensures it’s a home that makes the most of both modern technologies and traditional knowledge, offering a Sagaponack escape like no other.
INFORMATION
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).
-
The 2024 Ivor Novello nominations for songwriting have been revealed
77 British and Irish songwriters and composers make up this year's nominees, announced tonight at London's Groucho Club
By Charlotte Gunn Published
-
Why Bollinger’s La Grande Année 2015 champagne is worth celebrating
Champagne Bollinger unveils La Grande Année 2015 and La Grande Année Rosé 2015, two outstanding cuvées from an exceptional year in wine-making
By Melina Keays Published
-
Lexus installation explores time at Milan Design Week 2024
Lexus brought designer Hideki Yoshimoto’s ‘Beyond the Horizon’ to Milan’s Art Point, part of its ongoing series of collaborations with Fuorisalone
By Nargess Shahmanesh Banks Published
-
Shigeru Ban’s mini Paper Log House welcomed at The Glass House
'Shigeru Ban: The Paper Log House' is shown at The Glass House in New Canaan, USA as the house museum of American architect Philip Johnson plays host to the Japanese architect’s model temporary home concept
By Adrian Madlener Published
-
Ray Phoenix to rise in Arizona
Ray Phoenix housing project launches, designed by Johnston Marklee, who worked with Lamar Johnson Collaborative, for property experts Ray and Vela
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
A low-energy farmhouse provides a rural escape in North Carolina
This low-energy farmhouse is a net zero architectural re-set for a Californian client, an East Coast relocation for a more engaged and low-key lifestyle
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
A Petra Island house rises from Frank Lloyd Wright's original drawings
Based on Frank Lloyd Wright drawings, the cantilevering Petra Island Massaro House, located in New York’s Hudson Valley, is now open to visitors
By Craig Kellogg Published
-
Modernist architecture: inspiration from across the globe
Modernist architecture has had a tremendous influence on today’s built environment, making these midcentury marvels some of the most closely studied 20th-century buildings; check back soon for new additions to our list
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
An Upper West Side apartment by General Assembly nods to its history
An Upper West Side apartment in New York, born out of the reimagining of two neighbouring units, is refreshed by General Assembly for a young family
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
New York's Leica store echoes the brand's blend of heritage and innovation
Leica store throws open its doors in New York's Meatpacking District, courtesy of Brooklyn based Format Architecture Office
By Adrian Madlener Published
-
Hudson Valley Residence is a low-lying retreat that seamlessly blends into the horizon
Designed by HGX Design, Hudson Valley Residence is a scenic home offering unobstructed views across the Catskill Mountains in Upstate New York
By Tianna Williams Published