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.
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