Nestled along a creek-front property in Water Mill, New York, the Mothersill Residence by Bates Masi + Architects masterfully intertwines historical preservation with contemporary design. The site houses two culturally significant structures designed by architect Andrew Geller in 1962—a small house and a studio—set amidst a diverse landscape of rare plantings, including a serpentine Yew garden and over 400,000 Siberian Iris.
Design Inspired by Coastal Boardwalks
Drawing inspiration from the elevated wooden boardwalks common in Eastern Long Island’s dunes, the design employs a continuous wooden path that connects the historic Geller structures with the new main residence. This boardwalk not only serves as a physical link but also becomes an architectural element, transforming into the floor, walls, and roof of the main house.
As described by the architects:
“Elevated, wooden boardwalks extending into the beachscape are a common occurrence in the dunes of Eastern Long Island. Hovering slightly over the ground, this simple device is a pathway to the beach that carefully negotiates a constantly changing terrain.”
Seamless Integration with the Landscape
The boardwalk meanders through the property, originating from the relocated Geller House in the Yew garden, winding around the serpentine hedge to a new swimming pool, and connecting to shaded outdoor living spaces. This path defines a new central lawn and culminates in a cantilevered deck that offers views of the sloping wetland and creek.
Material Consistency and Architectural Dialogue
All surfaces of the main house’s enclosure are constructed with the same wood decking as the boardwalk, creating a uniform material palette that blurs the lines between landscape and architecture. This consistency reflects the influence of Geller’s design and facilitates an architectural dialogue between the historic structures and the new residence.
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.
