Robert Young Architects has taken a slightly unconventional approach to the East Lake House, a project in Montauk, New York, where two adjacent lots had been sold as one—an unusual find in the area. Instead of building one oversized house on the land, the firm chose to visually break down the expansive space by constructing a main house and a guest house/garage.

The modern design places the two structures across from one another, leaving space in the center of the property for a grassy lawn and a pool.

The two separate gabled structures serve as the main house and a garage with guest accommodations. The exteriors of the buildings are defined by the choice of wide, unfinished cedar planks, a material that will develop a driftwood-like silvery patina over time. The roofs are composed of raw zinc, which together with the exterior bronze hardware, will develop a beautiful weathered look as they age.

Inside, the modern interiors consist of an exposed structural steel frame which has been painted black. Set against a neutral palette of whites and bleached woods, the frame is combined with large expanses of energy-efficient solar glass.

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Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Robert Young Architects / @robertyoungarchitects
Builder/General Contractor: Men at Work Construction Corp.
Structural Engineer: Becker Engineer, PC
Civil Engineer: D.B. Bennett PE, PC
Landscape Design Company: LaGuardia Design Group
Lighting Design: Tirschwell & Co
Interior Design: Robert Young Architects
Sound Engineer: Audio Interiors
Cabinetry Design: Cousins Furniture
Mechanical/Energy Engineer: ZeroEnergy Design
Landscape Contractor: James C. Grimes Land Design

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Two Cedar-Clad Structures Form a Unique Montauk Retreat