Twin Gables

Water Mill Modern Farmhouse

Nestled among the orchards and wineries of Southampton, this new single-family residence in Water Mill, NY, combines deliberate modern design functionality with classic farmhouse forms that are familiar to the local vernacular. The home is designed to provide ample interior space without compromising on natural light, views or connection with nature.

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Architecture
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Concept & Programming
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Schematic Design
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Design Development
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Construction Documents
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Construction Administration

Core Design Concepts

VIEWS OF NATURE
The property is wrapped with mature local trees and surrounded by neighboring farmland. To continuously connect the family with the local landscape, the rear of the home is lined with glass while two rooftop lookouts provide views of orchards, Mecox Bay, and the beaches along Dune Road.

ROTATION
By twisting the first floor massing out into the rear yard, the dark center of the home now opens up to be filled with natural light and views. Additionally, this gesture created two covered living/dining spaces which further encourage the family to gather outdoors.

HISTORIC REFERENCES
Two classic farmhouse gable forms cap the second floor of the home and resemble two side-by-side floating barns. The clean-lined gables juxtapose the flat roof terraces of the first floor, creating a compelling dialogue between old vs. new.

Although it is an entirely modern dwelling, the Twin Gables Farmhouse looks to celebrate traditional elements of farmhouse life. Fully glazed windows across the front of the home contrast with the garage’s classic form. Vertical panels of Adobo Radiata Pine by ReSAWN Timber Co. dress the exterior of the home in a subdued, neutral wood-tone with exceptional texture.

The home’s vast yard includes an in-ground pool surrounded by ample patio space, and a full-sized sunken tennis court. The rear of the home is configured for optimal engagement with the property’s extensive backyard. A wall of sliding glass doors facing the rear yard can transform an indoor space to be nearly fully outdoors.

Smaller “punched” windows on the second floor soften the home from its modern palette on the first floor and provide privacy from the bedrooms suites. Tiers of balconies across the second and third floors of the home encourage outdoor living and entertainment for friends and family, claiming nearby views of the surrounding orchards and Hamptons waterfront from the roof deck.

On the final days of construction, as the homeowners prepared to move in, our team of architectural designers stopped by to capture the soon-to-be-completed modern farmhouse.

The primary suite is oriented towards a Copper Beech Tree on the property, which the team fought to preserve throughout the course of construction. Views from the bedroom center with the tree, engulfing the space with a warm foliage.

The Twin Gable roofline is visually separated by one gable’s fully-wrapped wood cladding, and the other being made from metal. The shift in roofline material speaks to the home’s status as a modern home in a historic, farming region.

Rich landscaping around the home embraces lush sod and flourishing sea grasses. The beige tones of seagrass flow with the wood tone of the home, offering organic movement along a geometric space. The coastal plant life harmonizes with the cultural layers of the Hamptons property. Overtime, the plantings will continue to grow and settle with the home and the exterior wood will continue to “silver” over the next 3-5 years, tapping into the rustic charm.

The large patio space encourages equal participation in indoor and outdoor living. The home’s inground pool extends the linear nature of the home to the backyard. Walls of sliding glass doors can be opened or closed to seize or conceal the sun, allowing for the instant transformation of an indoor entertainment area to become an extension of the backyard.

The home’s second floor roof deck overlooks the backyard of the property, offering sweeping views of nearby fields. Glass panels surround the perimeter of the deck, bearing a minimal, visual boundary between the roof and the elevated Water Mill views.

Likewise, a secondary roof deck on the home’s third floor claims water views of the ocean while providing a subtle break in the Gable roofline. The third floor deck overlooks a neighboring farm, fully immersing roof-goers with an intimate view of Hamptons life.