Bates Masi + Architects Conceives of a Beach House in Long Island That Pays Homage to its Surroundings

2021 Best of Year winner for Beach House

Talk about hyper-local: Stony Hill, a 6,300-square-foot family residence on Long Island, draws from the history of the land it stands on. The site was once Native American hunting grounds and later used as communal pasture for early settlers. Firm principal and Interior Design Hall of Fame member Paul Masi conceived the architecture and surrounding landscape to honor and celebrate that agrarian history. Steeply pitched gable roofs give the structure a barnlike massing and obviate the need for collar ties, thus allowing for lofty interior volumes. Traditional thatched siding packed between exposed framing is a modern twist on the centuries-old process. The strong linear rhythm of the exterior framing continues inside—reappearing in elements such as vertical slatting of the primary bath vanity—as does the outsize shingle siding, which clads a cozy family room with fireplaces and built-in L-shape seating unit. Natural materials such as white oak and clay tiles create an atmosphere harmonious with the pastoral plot. The latter is planted with varied-height vegetation to recall the lot’s past, when it was divvied into separate parcels: Tall grasses shield the house from the road, while lower blades and ground cover around the pool and grounds open up the views.

Bates Masi + Architects: PAUL MASI