Beach House
Montauk, New York
Project Team
Architect
Interior Designer
Contractors
Photo Credits
AWARDS
Although their residence is traditional in style, the owners preferred a modernist approach for the pool and pool house retreat they envisioned. This contrast suggested a physical separation, a decision that worked well with landscape setbacks mandated by the neighborhood association. As parents of small children, the clients also wanted to keep the pool area away from the house as a safety measure.
The pool house and pool were located at the far end of the two-acre lot, on a bluff above Montauk’s Culloden Point, a dramatic site but one with extreme exposure to the northwest and the salt-laden winds that sweep in off of Long Island Sound. Salt-resistant materials and plantings were required. The outdoor kitchen is made of marine-grade, corrosion- resistant stainless steel, the decking is of ipé, and pool house woodwork of mahogany. The landscape was stocked with salt-resistant plants such as London plane trees, cherries, and crape myrtles.
LDG designed all aspects of the project, from the architecture of the pool house to the layout of the surrounding landscape. The goal was to create a space that would accommodate a crowd of guests, but also provide a cozy retreat for the majority of the time when the only users were the family. This was accomplished with a series of spaces, each one intimate in itself, but which in aggregate provided a generous space. The success lay in linking and balancing the various spaces. The lawn and terrace immediately around the pool are expansive, while the lounge and dining area sheltered by the arbor and the seating inside the pool house offer more intimate retreats. These spaces can be opened up to expand the capacity of the whole.
In the smaller spaces, elements such as light, materials, and detailing became critical. The setting was deliberately kept calm and simple, with a plain green plant palette, and luxuriously appointed spaces. Every aspect of beach-side living is provided for.
