Promised Land

The owners of this Amagansett property and their family have a passion for being on the water. Their interests - wind surfing, kite boarding, and sailing – all depend on the wind and the resulting sea conditions. Whether relaxing at home or on a nearby beach, the owners are constantly searching for cues that conditions are optimal to get on the water. Thus, their home is designed to respond to and register the wind, becoming an instrument by which to gauge and appreciate it.

Site research revealed a remarkable consistency in the westerly wind direction. As a result, the home and site designs are arranged along an east-west axis. Along this axis, a narrow clearing in the forest channels the wind towards a courtyard that separates the public and private wings of the house. A glass enclosed breezeway bisects the courtyard to connect the two wings, but its walls can be completely opened to allow the wind to flow through the site uninterrupted. Within the courtyard, in parallel with the axis, a reflecting pool acts as a barometer for displaying the status of the wind. Not only do the ripples in the water surface highlight the direction and intensity of the breeze, but sunlight and artificial light reflect off the surface onto the ceiling overhangs above, projecting and amplifying the animated pattern of the waves.

The structural system is comprised of a series of exposed glulam wood beams running east-west with venting panels between each beam at the perimeter. To achieve large spans, the beams are joined by steel flitch plates that create voids within the structure for light fixtures. Flitch plates also cantilever from the ends of the beams to support the thin profile roof that extend from all sides of the house. The overhangs capture the wind, directing it through the venting panels and along the beams to passively ventilate the home at the height of the ceiling, with less disturbance to the living areas below than simply opening the doors.

With the recognition of wind in the architecture comes the opportunity for the landscape to contribute to the experiences of the house. Lavender, mint and other aromatic plants were introduced to the windward side of the property. As it traverses the site, the wind picks up scents along the way and carries them into the living spaces.

Acting as a tool for highlighting environmental information, the architecture is dependent on the context. However, without the unique interests of its inhabitants this information is less meaningful. Because of their interdependent relationship, both place and lifestyle are enriched in a single gesture.