SubscribeSign In
Project posted by Resolution: 4 Architecture

Whalers Residence

View 24 Photos
Location
Amagansett, New York
Year
2021
Structure
House (Single Residence)
Style
Modern
Approach from autocourt with site-built garage and covered breezeway entry.
Approach from autocourt with site-built garage and covered breezeway entry.
Covered breezeway entry with bleached cedar slat wall, poured-in-place concrete pavers, and ipe decking.
Covered breezeway entry with bleached cedar slat wall, poured-in-place concrete pavers, and ipe decking.
Bleached cedar slats at garage brise soleil and breezeway slat wall.
Bleached cedar slats at garage brise soleil and breezeway slat wall.
Autocourt with acoustic panel screen walls, salvaged from a NYC parks amphitheater.
Autocourt with acoustic panel screen walls, salvaged from a NYC parks amphitheater.
Mirror at custom walnut built-in bench makes the foyer feel more generous.
Mirror at custom walnut built-in bench makes the foyer feel more generous.
Foyer entry connects the primary suite to the right, kitchen and living in the center, and office to the left.
Foyer entry connects the primary suite to the right, kitchen and living in the center, and office to the left.
A mix of white in the kitchen - painted cabinets, soft white Caesarstone countertops, and a faux marble backsplash - are paired with custom natural walnut cabinetry to house the fridge, ovens, and pantry cabinets.
A mix of white in the kitchen - painted cabinets, soft white Caesarstone countertops, and a faux marble backsplash - are paired with custom natural walnut cabinetry to house the fridge, ovens, and pantry cabinets.
The dining and living space is anchored with a wall of walnut cabinetry and floating shelves to the north.
The dining and living space is anchored with a wall of walnut cabinetry and floating shelves to the north.
Off the rear of the living space is a TV room / den to the right and the guest suite to the left.
Off the rear of the living space is a TV room / den to the right and the guest suite to the left.
The TV room / den projects into the pool, for a sense that you're floating. Office built-ins provide additional display space for books, pottery, and the owner's collection of antique radios.
The TV room / den projects into the pool, for a sense that you're floating. Office built-ins provide additional display space for books, pottery, and the owner's collection of antique radios.
The office includes a custom desk built-in and a small pull out sofa on the opposite side, so it can double as a guest room.
The office includes a custom desk built-in and a small pull out sofa on the opposite side, so it can double as a guest room.
The guest suite is connected to the pool deck with this bridge piece, covered in a cedar slat trellis.
The guest suite is connected to the pool deck with this bridge piece, covered in a cedar slat trellis.
The pool deck overlooks the dunes and scrubby beach pines to the south.
The pool deck overlooks the dunes and scrubby beach pines to the south.
The guest bed looks out past the pool deck and pool to the dunes.
The guest bed looks out past the pool deck and pool to the dunes.
The pool deck uses a cedar slat screen wall to screen the neighbors from view.
The pool deck uses a cedar slat screen wall to screen the neighbors from view.
The pool wraps around the southern side of the house.
The pool wraps around the southern side of the house.
The dining deck off the living space looks past the pool to the dunes.
The dining deck off the living space looks past the pool to the dunes.
Aerial drone photograph.
Aerial drone photograph.
Dressing room with custom walnut built-ins.
Dressing room with custom walnut built-ins.

4 more photos

Details

Square Feet
2245
Lot Size
46,583 SF
Bedrooms
3
Full Baths
3

Credits

Posted by
Architect
Builder
Cruz Brothers Construction LLC
Photographer

From Resolution: 4 Architecture

The 2,245 SF footprint of this single-story house located in the Amagansett dunes was largely driven by the unique constraints of the site, a flag lot with a scenic easement to the south and east and reserved areas with wetlands to the north and south. The wetlands required 150’ setbacks to the house and pool and 200’ setbacks to the septic system, which consequently consumed the northeast corner of the site. With Montauk Highway visible to the North, visual screening and noise mitigation were also important concerns.

The resultant pinwheel scheme creates a series of courtyards, each with a different character in response to the varied site conditions, maintaining a connection to the outdoors throughout the house. The dining and pool decks to the south open to the views of the undulating dune landscape. The pool wraps around the southern side of the house, creating a sense of swimming amongst the pines. The guest wing offers its own outdoor connection with a deck bridging to the pool deck and dunes views. Upon entry, the setbacks and nature of the flag lot dictated the location of the garage upon arrival. So, the garage volume is incorporated into an entry composition with an elevated breezeway, defining another curated court with grasses and ornamental trees that becomes an integral part of the entry procession to the house.

As the clients sought to transition from city life in Manhattan to establishing their full-time residence in Amagansett, the program called for a modest house for two with the flexibility to entertain family and guests. The office, with a built-in desk and bookshelves, doubles as a second guest room with a Murphy bed. The pinwheel scheme creates separate ‘wings’ off the living space, which allows for more privacy for guests while minimizing the footprint by eliminating hallways. The master suite is tucked off the entry, creating a serene escape with southern views to the dunes. The open kitchen, dining, living space with sliding glass doors along the south side allows for communal gatherings that can spill out onto the deck. The TV room lounge is wrapped in full height glass and projects into the pool, seemingly floating.

The house was designed to be modular, with 12’-wide boxes arranged to create four wings around a central living space. Modular construction serves to minimize site disturbance and reduce the construction duration on the delicate site near the protected natural areas and wetlands.