Environmentally Sensitive Abodes

The Harbor House Takes the Delicate Site into Consideration

Bates Masi + Architects designed the 'Northwest Harbor House,' a single family home located in East Hampton, New York.

The home's precarious location near freshwater wetlands and a tidal inlet required the architects to proceed with extreme caution and environmental sensitivity. FEMA required the home's ground floor be raised above the base flood elevation. The architects responded to the limitation by designing a single-story structure elevated eight feet above the ground. The 1,900-square-foot plan necessitated a creative internal structure to ensure quality air circulation and light entry.

The enclosed walls of the bedrooms are bolstered by 16 exposed piles, which extend from the ground up. Between the piles, the architects established utility spaces such as pantries, closets and laundry.
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