Northwest Peach Farm
Lot size: 10 acres
Building size: 7000 sq. ft.
Location: East Hampton, NY
Program: Single Family Residence
Photographer: Michael Moran
Landscape Architect: Coen + Partners
In a market that treats houses as commodities, designed to maximize resale value after a few summers of enjoyment, the owners of this home have a uniquely long-term vision. Coming from a European perspective, the owners think of a country home in terms of generations, not seasons. They want the house to be a venue for their young childrens’ future weddings and a playground for the grandchildren they hope for someday. The home is to be a family heirloom.
To remain a treasured heirloom despite changing fashions and styles, the design of the home must be timeless. On a former peach farm, the house is comprised of a series of gable-roofed pavilions that appear to have accumulated over time. The size and form of each piece are in keeping with more modest vernacular buildings. Similarly, the siding references local building traditions in texture and scale. These traditional forms are subtly adapted in this house to establish its own rare and timeless character.
The materials and systems were chosen to withstand the elements with little or no maintenance. The life span of the copper shingles cladding the roof and walls is over 100 years. The doors and windows were selected with durability in mind as well. A British company has manufactured the same industrial steel windows for over
150 years, with many early examples still in use. Future energy concerns are addressed with a geothermal heating and cooling system, green roofs, and triple-glazed windows.
To further knit the house together with the family, it is designed to slowly change over time with them. As the extended family gathers for their annual visits, they will notice the copper shingles slowly changing from brown to green and the weathering limestone transitioning from cream to brown. And as the family’s cherished wine collection grows over time, the pixelated pattern of shadows the bottles cast on a glazed wall of the entry will gradually expand.
The final means of establishing the house as an heirloom is to design it to encourage lasting family memories. Toward that end, unique details transform daily rituals into memorable events. In the kitchen, rolling cutting boards ride in tracks down the long island, turning meal preparation into an assembly line for everyone’s participation. The dining table can be reconfigured to make every meal special. Stainless steel tubes running the length of the table can be rotated to reveal candleholders, flower vase holders, or flat surfaces for hot dishes. For parties, the tubes can be removed and the trough filled with ice for chilling drinks. The house surrounds a large lawn, terraced to create large areas for play or for a future wedding.
The clients look forward to many summers together in the house, each one made more memorable by thoughtful design.
To remain a treasured heirloom despite changing fashions and styles, the design of the home must be timeless. On a former peach farm, the house is comprised of a series of gable-roofed pavilions that appear to have accumulated over time. The size and form of each piece are in keeping with more modest vernacular buildings. Similarly, the siding references local building traditions in texture and scale. These traditional forms are subtly adapted in this house to establish its own rare and timeless character.
The materials and systems were chosen to withstand the elements with little or no maintenance. The life span of the copper shingles cladding the roof and walls is over 100 years. The doors and windows were selected with durability in mind as well. A British company has manufactured the same industrial steel windows for over
150 years, with many early examples still in use. Future energy concerns are addressed with a geothermal heating and cooling system, green roofs, and triple-glazed windows.
To further knit the house together with the family, it is designed to slowly change over time with them. As the extended family gathers for their annual visits, they will notice the copper shingles slowly changing from brown to green and the weathering limestone transitioning from cream to brown. And as the family’s cherished wine collection grows over time, the pixelated pattern of shadows the bottles cast on a glazed wall of the entry will gradually expand.
The final means of establishing the house as an heirloom is to design it to encourage lasting family memories. Toward that end, unique details transform daily rituals into memorable events. In the kitchen, rolling cutting boards ride in tracks down the long island, turning meal preparation into an assembly line for everyone’s participation. The dining table can be reconfigured to make every meal special. Stainless steel tubes running the length of the table can be rotated to reveal candleholders, flower vase holders, or flat surfaces for hot dishes. For parties, the tubes can be removed and the trough filled with ice for chilling drinks. The house surrounds a large lawn, terraced to create large areas for play or for a future wedding.
The clients look forward to many summers together in the house, each one made more memorable by thoughtful design.