Inside a Magical Holiday Home Like No Other (House Tour)

Unlike many coastal homes, East Hampton Modern by Workshop/APD is not defined by its proximity to the beach or sweeping ocean views. Rather, this Hamptons home finds its grounding in an agricultural setting, where abundant wildflowers and swathes of farmland set the bucolic tone.

The client – a New York City-based executive – spent many years holidaying in the preceding home on the property. Having outgrown the residence, he approached Workshop/APD to design a larger home that would not only embrace the surrounding landscape but house friends from New York City and family for weekends and overnight stays. “We started to think about how you develop a house like that, and that’s what brought together this idea of a contained main house with a separate two-bedroom guesthouse all under one roof,” says founding principal Matthew Berman.

The resulting architecture is defined by a series of gabled forms that stretch across the site with an internal courtyard. Clad entirely in shou sugi ban charred timber with a black, standing seam metal roof, the materials and the design reference the barn-like vernacular typical to the area through a bold, contemporary lens. Located at the end of a winding driveway – which contributes to the feeling of a respite from the hubbub of nearby East Hampton village – the home is immediately captivating in this leafy setting.

Though the architecture and overall built form play a heavy hand in this home’s identity, so too does the landscaping. Conceived by Abby Clough Lawless of Farm Landscape Design, wildflowers and natural grasses envelop the home. As the architect Matthew comments, this unruliness is what sets the home apart. “Abby has created an amazing wonderland,” he says, adding that the planting comes “right up to the coping of the pool so you really feel like this home is set in a natural environment that, frankly, has been very untouched or unmanicured in a way that [differs from] a lot of other properties in the area.”

The house tour shows the arrival sequence, which brings guests into a central, covered breezeway separating the main house to the right and the guesthouse to the left. Directly ahead is the pool and garden that unfurl from the timber deck, drawing visitors deeper into the property. “When you walk into this space, you’re underneath this amazing umbrella of a roof – it really contains you but you’re still outside,” explains Matthew.

Stepping inside, guests are greeted by an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area. Fully glazed walls capture views and the interior design and decor echo the exterior. The kitchen anchors the space, and the powder room, primary bedroom and bathroom are all located deeper into the plan with sophisticated decor. Lastly, a private outdoor shower sits at the tip of the house where a small opening in the full-height timber walls frames a charming vignette of the farmland.

One of this home’s most consistent threads is its distinct connection to landscape. Not only has it been conceived as a response to its context, it effortlessly embraces the site’s natural condition.

00:00 - Introduction To The Holiday Home
00:32 - The East Hampton Location
01:08 - The Brief And The Potential
02:00 - Connecting With Nature
02:43 - A Walkthrough Of The Home
04:01 - Inspired By Natural Textures And Colours
05:01 - A Pool Enveloped By Nature
06:05 - Personal Highlights Of The Project

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Photography by Donna Dotan.
Architecture by Workshop/APD.
Build by Shoshi Builders.
Landscape design by Farm Landscape Design.
Engineering by Craft Enginerring Studio.
Filmed and edited by O&Co. Homes.
Production by The Local Project.

Location: East Hampton, New York, United States

The Local Project acknowledges the traditional territories and homelands of the Indigenous peoples in the United States. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our respective countries and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.

#Home #HouseTour #Magical

[dotdesanti]

Living on Long Island and familiar with typical Hamptons new builds, this is a breath of fresh air. Kudos to Abby Lawless, the landscape designer who is open to transforming the landscape to support the wildlife and the natural landscape.

[nicoleeboo]

the landscaping is to die for...so stunning

[bryansandiego]

Not normally a fan of the "all black modern farmhouse" look but man, this one is brilliant! Well designed, decorated, edited and narrated. Excellent house, site and video. Bravo!

[ornelashtembari]

This house does justice to the beauty of the outside that comes inside through the modern architecture. Modern living in harmony with the natural background. It’s well thought and even better executed. It really feels zen!

[KofieBluejay]

Can we appreciate that for once, a rich American did not destroy their garden by cutting the grass and actually create a good ecological one?
That’s really great!

Very nice house.

[EnterSports]

The artistic cohesion between the design team Architect and Builder is just impeccable!

[PacificOutdoor]

Shout out to the beautiful shot at 2:21. Also the simplicity of the pool as a natural extension of the breezeway is just gorgeous.

[ExultantTJ]

I love every TLP fearured project. But man this one... this one stands apart. It is the most resonable, clean, practical, mindful yet BEAUTIFUL piece of architecture. Love the landscaping too. Oh my gosh. This house is posh.

[mikama-wr]

This is a spectacular house, in & out, with a magical landscape. Great job from the architecte and the client who embraced the designer’s vision.

[biasanto]

I love the pool concept. It seems so peaceful

[SvenKolb]

Holy Smokes... That's really beautiful! I can feel the breeze, that welcomes you, as you enter that house! You outdid yourself!

[SaprAud]

I'm not always a big fan of the USA-houses of The Local Project, I usually like the New Zealand houses better, but this was just stunning! Both the architecture and interior design of the house itself and how it sat in its natural environmnet is amazing. Not cutting the grass and letting wildflowers blossom is great for the local ecology. It makes me happy to see at least one American not ruining the garden with a lawn (yawn).

[danielk]

Well!... As a Mid Century Modernist, a MCM design specialist, and a MCM preservationist I usually feel that new-build contemporary homes often pale in comparison to the glittering heights achieved by the modern masters of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. However, this contemporary home is truly stunning!... Inspired in its conception and elegantly executed: a contemporary take on Modernism ripe with a seamless connection to its environment and a celebratory sense of place! WOW! Wonderful!... and that says a lot coming from an architecture snob like me who abhors the "clean-lined", stark and boxy mansions of recent years. Congratulations on a true work of architectural art! William Cody is smiling today. All the very best, Daniel Krog

[carolarellano]

Spectacular! At last a backyard that looks like a meadow with grass and wild flowers. Beautiful house!

[louieb.]

one of the best TLP showcases in a while, what a nice house!

[davonpointer]

Absolutely stunning, one of my favourites on this channel. I love the wild garden, really adds to the texture of the home. Well done the whole team 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[MariaPNW]

I was expecting to like the "style" of this modern home, but definitely not expecting to love it! Especially when I saw that it was set in the "Hamptons", where only the super rich snobs can go and/or live. But somehow this home's humble, approachable presence and natural raw beauty comes across as very welcoming, without a care for a guest's financial or social status. Of course the materials and finishes are premium, and in some cases rare, but they're not vulgar or too obvious. To the architect, designer, landscaper, and homeowner: Thank you for the thoughtful design and sharing your beautiful home with the rest of us mere mortals!

[chrisanngianoli]

This project made me smile. It is top notch

[tonileenemanick]

Everything about this - inside and out - is stunning.

[julieuk]

I could live here year-round, without an issue.x beautiful.x