One of the most notable aspects of a Long Beach House created by US studios Steven Harris Architects and Rees Roberts & Partners to embrace its sand-dune location is a curved canopy with a rooftop reflecting pool.
Situated on a hillside plot in the Hamptons, the project was designed for an art-loving, urban couple who desired a family vacation house that would appreciate the coastal landscape and be fit for hosting guests.
“The clients, New York executives, desired architecture in the midcentury modern tradition that showcased the dune-filled landscape and created space to enjoy time with friends and family,” according to the team.
Two Manhattan companies that have previously collaborated on projects together designed the project: the landscape and interior design business Rees Roberts and the architectural studio Steven Harris Architects.
The studios drew inspiration for the project from the site’s undulating terrain and vistas of the Atlantic Ocean.
The late Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx, whose designs frequently featured organic forms, was another source the team looked to.
As a result, the Beach House has a U-shaped floor plan and incorporates both straight and curved lines.
“The form of the house itself was conceived of as a series of cantilevered, rectilinear volumes pivoting about solid brick masses,” the architects stated.
“The orthogonal geometries were then offset against a series of more biomorphic forms at all scales.”
The team chose a material palette for the outside that would be sturdy and low-maintenance enough to withstand the harsh sea climate, where rot and rust are regular issues.
“To that end, pale stucco and Petersen Tegl brick were selected due to their resilience to heat, wind, salt and sand,” the group stated. “Similarly, all windows were specified to be marine stainless.”
Situated deep within an entry courtyard, the front door is located on the north side. Entering the space, one is greeted by a light-filled foyer that is broken up by a sculptured stairway designed to resemble a shell.
The unique floor layout of the 12,000 square foot (1,115 square meter) house places the living room, dining room, and kitchen on the top level.
“The teams stated that this goes against the custom of placing these kinds of public areas at the entry level,” pointing out that the elevated location allows for views of the water.
“The public areas enjoy a panoramic vista of the ocean over the nearby dune, which would otherwise have blocked the view.”
The main bedroom, a kid’s sleeping and sitting area, two offices, and a media room are all located on the upper floor.
There are several guest bedrooms, back-of-house areas, and an indoor basketball court on the ground floor.
Additionally, there’s a gym with a pneumatic door that opens onto a garden with a private shower so that members can take a shower outside.
The interior finishes of the Beach House include walnut, stone, plaster, and teak.
The furnishings feature works by Kelly Wearstler, Louise Liljencrantz, and Isamu Noguchi in addition to numerous unique pieces made by Rees Roberts & Partners.
One of the many pieces of art is a mural by abstract artist Mig Perkins in the foyer.
Large glass sections connect the Beach House to the seaside scenery throughout, while roof overhangs give shade without blocking views.
There are other outdoor areas, such as a pavilion with a sculpture canopy over it and a swimming pool with an infinity edge that draws inspiration from the designs of Oscar Niemeyer and Roberto Burle Marx.
The group included a reflecting pool atop the canopy.
“The pool deck looks out at a sculptural pavilion with a curved underbelly and reflecting pool on top, reflecting the sky and accentuating the immediacy of the ocean from the home’s living room,” the designers stated.
Tall grasses were added as part of the project’s landscape upgrades to assist “blend the house with the dunescape”.
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