A House Between Freshwater Wetlands and a Tidal Estuary

Located in East Hampton, New York, the Northwest Harbor house finds itself between freshwater wetlands and a tidal estuary that’s just six feet above sea level. Due to it’s sensitive location, extra precautions had to be taken to preserve environmental surroundings. Bates Masi Architects were limited by the local zoning restrictions and FEMA’s requirements to build the first floor above the base flood elevation, so they could only build one story that was no larger than 1,900 square feet in size. They raised the house eight feet off the ground and designed a 1,895 square foot coastal residence that anyone would want to live in year-round.

Instead of regular pilings used in typical waterfront construction, they incorporated 16 exposed, glue-laminated piles that stake out the enclosing bedroom walls which reach from the ground through to the roof. In between these piles utility functions were built-in, like a closet, desk, laundry, pantry, and shower compartment.

Floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding glass doors cover much of the exterior walls bringing in maximum light to the interior. When they’re opened, it almost feels like you’re floating.

Wood on the floors and ceiling run length-wise carrying your eye straight through the space and to the green landscape surrounding the house.

Each room has a “framed” landscape picture of the scenery to look at.

Darker wood panels run vertically making the ceiling appear higher than it really is, while adding a nice contrast to the lighter floors and ceiling.

A roof deck means the homeowners can have uninterrupted views of the waterfront and surrounding neighborhood.

Photos by Bates Masi Architects