Profile

Bates Masi + Architects LLC, a full-service architectural firm with offices in New York City and the East End of Long Island for 60 years, responds to each project with extensive research in related architectural fields, material, craft and the environment to create unique solutions as varied as the individuals or groups for whom they are designed. The focus is neither the size nor the type of project, but the opportunity to enrich lives and enhance the environment. The attention to all elements of design has been a constant in the firm’s philosophy, as instilled by the firm’s founder, Harry Bates. Harry was one of the leading midcentury modern architects. Organized tours of his works on Fire Island and in the Hamptons are an ongoing tribute to his legacy.

Bates Masi projects around the world include urban and suburban residences, offices, hotels, restaurants and furniture. The firm has received more than 260 design awards and has been featured in national and international publications including The New York Times, New York Magazine, Architectural Digest, Interior Design, Architectural Record, Wall Street Journal, and The Local Project. Design publications consistently recognize Bates Masi as a leading architecture practice. The firm is a longstanding member of the Interior Design Hall of Fame and recently received the 20th Anniversary Best of the Best Award. Bespoke Home, the first monograph of the firm’s work, with introduction by Paul Goldberger was published by ORO and is currently in its fourth print edition. Architecture of Place, the firm’s highly anticipated second monograph, is available in bookstores now.

LEADERSHIP

Paul Masi spent childhood summers in Montauk and currently resides in Amagansett. He received a Bachelor of Architecture from Catholic University, Research Study at The University College of London, Bartlett, UK and a Masters of Architecture from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University. He worked at Richard Meier & Partners before joining Harry Bates and forming Bates Masi + Architects. He has guest lectured at universities, professional organizations and cultural institutions, as well as local elementary and high schools. He enjoys making custom furniture in his home wood shop.

Aaron Weil was raised in upstate New York and graduated from the University of Virginia with bachelors and masters degrees in Architecture. He was instilled with the principles of research driven and environmentally responsible design by The University of Virginia, a leader in Innovative Sustainable Design. He worked at William McDonough + Partners in Charlottesville, VA before joining Bates Masi + Architects over twenty years ago.

Aaron Zalneraitis, a native of Connecticut, studied architecture with a concentration in theory at Cornell University. He joined Bates Masi + Architects upon graduating. Then he continued residential work through townhouse and apartment commissions while at SPAN Architecture in the commercial and hospitality sectors. Aaron returned to Bates Masi + Architects over ten years ago. He is in constant pursuit of architecture and travels extensively to experience architectural works in person.

Katherine Dalene Weil, raised in the Hamptons by second-generation building craftsmen and early adopters of sustainability, learned about the craft of construction while employed at the family’s business. She attended the Rhode Island School of Design and still enjoys painting and making sterling silver jewelry. She joined Bates Masi + Architects twenty years ago. Kat enjoys mentoring local students interested in pursuing a career in architecture through shadowing experiences and career days at the schools.

INQUIRIES

We are always looking for talented designers to join our team. If interested, please send resume and portfolio to info@batesmasi.com.

Contact

132 North Main Street
2nd Floor
East Hampton, NY 11937

21 West 46th Street
Suite 1106
New York, NY 10036

T 631.725.0229

email
 
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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.