Situated on a serene cove in East Hampton, the Georgica Cove Residence by Bates Masi + Architects offers a contemporary take on the traditional New England connected farmhouse. Designed for a couple seeking a home that accommodates both intimate living and large family gatherings, this residence seamlessly blends modern design with the area’s vernacular architecture.
Design Inspired by Historic Connected Farms
Drawing inspiration from the historic typology of connected farms—where multiple buildings serve distinct functions yet are unified in style—the residence comprises several interlinked structures. Each volume houses a specific program: the owners’ suite and office, an eat-in kitchen with a family room, formal living and dining areas, and guest accommodations.
Arranged around a central courtyard, these structures provide both visual and physical connections. Large sliding doors allow spaces to be opened for communal gatherings or closed off for privacy. Independent mechanical systems in each volume enable portions of the home to be shut down when unoccupied, allowing the house to expand or contract based on the occupants’ needs.
Material Palette Reflecting Local Traditions
The residence‘s materiality pays homage to East Hampton’s architectural heritage. Cedar shingles, scaled up to the size of boards, clad the roofs and sidewalls, while cedar screens offer privacy and filter natural light. A limestone plinth filled with sand elevates the house above the floodplain and incorporates drywells to manage stormwater runoff. Inside, oak floors and millwork unify the spaces, creating a warm and cohesive interior.
Flexible Living for Varied Occupancy
Designed to accommodate the couple’s desire for both solitude and socialization, the home’s layout allows for seamless transitions between intimate living and hosting extended family or guests. The thoughtful arrangement of spaces ensures comfort and functionality, whether occupied by two or twelve.
Bates Masi + Architects LLC is an award-winning, full-service architecture firm with over 60 years of experience rooted in New York City and the East End of Long Island. Renowned for its meticulous attention to materiality, craftsmanship, and environmental context, the firm delivers bespoke design solutions tailored to each client's unique needs and aspirations.
The practice is known for its thoughtful integration of research across multiple disciplines to enrich the built environment and elevate daily life. Their diverse portfolio spans residential, commercial, hospitality, and institutional projects across the United States, Central America, and the Caribbean. Whether urban dwellings, schools, boutique hotels, or custom furniture, each project reflects the studio’s philosophy of design excellence and contextual sensitivity.
Since 2003, Bates Masi has earned 243 design awards, with features in leading publications such as Architectural Digest, The New York Times, Interior Design, and Dwell. The firm was honored as one of Residential Architect Magazine’s "50 Architects We Love" and was inducted into the Interior Design Hall of Fame in 2013.
Their design legacy is documented in two monographs: Bespoke Home (2016) and Architecture of Place (currently available).
Leadership
Paul Masi, a native of Montauk and Harvard GSD alumnus, joined the firm in 1998 after working at Richard Meier & Partners. He brings a refined design sensibility rooted in modernist principles and contextual innovation.
Harry Bates, the founding partner, studied architecture at North Carolina State University and began his career at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill before launching his own practice in New York City. In 1980, he relocated the firm to Southampton, and its current headquarters is in a custom-designed office in East Hampton.
