A Modern Hamptons Property Embraces Warmth

The east end of Long Island has long drawn individuals to its bountiful shores, from Native Americans and European settlers to generations of farmers and seafarers. For a couple of water-loving homeowners, one storied property held particular appeal. Sheltered by verdant woods, the Three Mile Harbor estate boasts a sandy stretch of waterfront acreage, a private dock and millenia of rich natural history.

To celebrate such a setting would take a superlative design team. The owners recruited architect Viola Rouhani, designer Brad Ford and landscape architect Chris LaGuardia to envision a place that would not only suit the site but support it for future generations. From the home’s nascent stages, Rouhani, along with colleagues Luca Campaiola and Frank Guittard, worked closely with LaGuardia and his project team of John Hamilton and Justin Leanza to maximize use of the entire plot—and respect the historical significance of the land. “If there’s an overlying thread in our practice, it’s a deep appreciation for the native landscape and the environment we’re lucky enough to work in,” reflects Rouhani. “We try to celebrate that rather than create statement architecture that calls too much attention to itself.”

A previous house on the site sat close to the shoreline, which offered stellar views from inside but blocked the property’s visual flow and left prime square footage unused. The solution: pull the new structure back to better harmonize it with its surroundings. “People are often afraid that moving away from the water means losing the view, but that can be a fallacy,” Rouhani notes. “By strengthening what’s closest to the shore and letting the house sit slightly elevated, you look across this beautiful landscape and to the water beyond.”