Amagansett Residence
Flanked by Napeague State Park and within earshot of the ocean, a cherished 1960s cedar-shingled bungalow has found renewed life under the considered hand of General Assembly.
Amagansett Residence honours the unfussy charm of the original beach house, while threading through new moments of craft, intimacy and ease. Anchored by a careful respect for the existing footprint of the residence, the design narrative emerges from an interplay between old and new. The result drew inspiration from local architectural heritage and the idiosyncrasies of its landscape, coupled with 1960s and ’70s works of Norman Jaffe, whose architecture in the Hamptons championed cedar-shingled forms. As such, much of the original charm has been preserved, with new interventions articulated as a natural extension rather than an imposition on the work.
Prior to commencing works, a rigorous examination of the owner’s lifestyles was undertaken to ensure changes were necessary instead of merely expected. Rather than simply opening rooms or adding floor area, a narrow space was transformed into a double-height jewellery studio, crowned by a skylight to bathe the area in soft, shifting light. These crafted spatial moves are further enlivened by distinctive details, such as the striking graphic cut-outs in the timber railing, which throw playful shadows as the day unfolds, and a bespoke stainless steel soaking tub to extend the sense of retreat.
Responding to the immediate setting among pine trees and native shrubs, the internal material palette was calibrated to tie the home to place with pine-green tiles in the kitchen and timber joinery throughout. The kitchen, once cramped, now flows generously, reimagined as the heart of the home with expanses of custom joinery. Throughout, unexpected combinations – chrome next to timber, bold wallpaper offset by subdued tile – signal a deft, tactile approach to create a home with nuance and meaning. The effect is grounded and invigorating, reflecting both the creative inclinations of the homeowners and the storied quietude of old Amagansett.
By walking a line between reverence and invention, General Assembly’s reimagining of the Amagansett house delivers not just a haven for its owners, but a work rich in detail and place. The approach privileges tactility, memory and context, stitching the story of Amagansett Residence’s landscape and its creative inhabitants into the very fabric of daily life.
Architecture and interior design by General Assembly. Build by Atlantic Collaborative.
