- Project: Pierson's Way Residence
- Architect: Bates Masi Architects
- Location: United States, East Hampton, New York
- Year: 2013
- Area: 687 m2
- Photography: Michael Moran
Nestled within a historic 19th-century oceanfront community in East Hampton, the Pierson’s Way Residence by Bates Masi Architects artfully bridges the past and the present. Designed for a young couple raising a growing family, the home offers a contemporary retreat that respects its traditional surroundings, drawing inspiration from the nearby gabled potato barns that characterize the region’s agrarian past.
Design Rooted in Context and Concealment
While the neighborhood adheres to conservative architectural traditions, this residence uses thoughtful design strategies to balance modernism with heritage. The structure is rotated to sit perpendicular to the private pool, occupying most of the lot while minimizing visual mass from the street.
To further reduce the perceived scale, the architects designed a false ground plane—a sloped structure that rises from grade to the second floor. Built from 7-inch-thick glue-laminated timber panels supported by steel girders, this plane hides the building’s height and provides a green roof planted with native grasses, enhancing privacy and integrating the home into the coastal landscape.
Exposed Structure as Architectural Expression
The glue-laminated panels aren’t just structural—they define the aesthetic. Inside, these panels remain exposed as ceiling surfaces, extending outside to form a 12′ x 90′ cantilever. The same material is used to carve stair treads, lighting recesses, built-in furniture, and cabinetry, maintaining a unified and tactile design language.
This sculptural quality not only showcases the material’s strength and integrity but creates a sense of continuity throughout the interior and exterior spaces.
Functional Program with a Family Focus
The first floor is tailored for guests and social gatherings, featuring open-plan communal areas with seamless access to outdoor entertainment zones. Meanwhile, the second floor serves as a private family haven. Surrounded by the elevated landscape, the upper level includes tranquil spaces such as a fire pit and spa with framed views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Paths woven through the sloped vegetation connect family areas to the more public lower level, encouraging movement and interaction between secluded and shared zones.
Materiality Anchored in Agrarian Tradition
To further root the home in its local context, materials commonly used in agricultural buildings are reinterpreted with modern precision:
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Alaskan Yellow Cedar Shakes: These cladding elements cover both roof and sidewalls in an oversized pattern—four times the standard exposure—to visually reduce the home’s mass.
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Weathering Steel: Referencing barn roofing, this durable material forms a natural patina over time, providing resilience and a rustic finish.
Together, these materials soften the modern form and echo the weathered character of the surrounding landscape, while requiring minimal upkeep.
A Thoughtful Alternative to Overdevelopment
In a region increasingly dominated by oversized, disconnected beach houses, the Pierson’s Way Residence presents an alternative. By embracing historic forms, modern functionality, and a strong connection to the land, this residence reinforces a sense of place while accommodating a dynamic, family-centered lifestyle.
