Frame House by Worrell Yeung

With glass walls and postcard views, Frame House by Worrell Yeung seamlessly blends modern design with the beauty of its natural surroundings. The striking use of glass allows the interior to feel like an extension of the outdoors, with panoramic vistas of the surrounding landscape being framed from each room.

Perched on a promontory with sweeping views of Gardiners Bay in East Hampton, New York, Frame House by Worrell Yeung offers a bold departure from the area’s traditional designs, embodying a fresh approach for a client seeking a distinctive way to embrace the region’s lush surroundings. The house is based on a meticulous grid, a three-dimensional steel framework that defines the architectural grammar both inside and out.

The client envisioned a home made entirely of glass, inspiring the design team to draw from historic structures like Le Corbusier’s Domino House and Mies van der Rohe’s Edith Farnsworth House.

The client envisioned a home made entirely of glass, inspiring the design team to draw from historic structures like Le Corbusier’s Domino House and Mies van der Rohe’s Edith Farnsworth House. However, they also prioritised privacy. “The solution came about through the implementation of modularity within the eponymous frame, allowing for the thoughtful and calibrated placement of opaque walls that respond to the site, solar orientations and interior functions,” says architect and co-founder Max Worrell.

Worrell and the firm’s other co-founder, architect Jejon Yeung, also introduced additional privacy-enhancing features, including sections of the street-facing frame filled with solid stained cedar walls. On the facade facing the waterfront and escarpment, the team incorporated large, glazed openings to maximise daylight and showcase the surrounding views. “Drawing from conceptual artists like Sol LeWitt and minimalists like Agnes Martin, we explored the idea of a frame as a spatial abstraction and used this as a starting point for the design,” says Yeung.

“Every room is positioned to emphasise the connection to the landscape, maximising water views and immersion in the natural beauty of the site,” notes Worrell.

A sloping stone staircase leads from the driveway to the entrance, which offers a clear line of sight through the glass rear facade, extending to the pool and expansive water views beyond. Inside, a floating staircase alongside a cedar-panelled wall artfully separates the public and private areas. This entryway, intentionally cosy and intimate, contrasts with the openness of the main living space beyond. To the right, the structure opens into a soaring double-height living, dining and kitchen area, with floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides that reveal views of the surrounding woods and the stunning panorama of Gardiners Bay. Large clerestory windows crown the kitchen, filling the space with soft natural light and framing the treetops. On the left side of the entry, two bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms offer a retreat-like feel, each with direct access to the outdoors. “Every room is positioned to emphasise the connection to the landscape, maximising water views and immersion in the natural beauty of the site,” notes Worrell.

Ascending the staircase, one arrives at a quiet library nook on the landing, which then opens to the primary suite. This suite features sweeping water views from both the bedroom and the adjoining bathroom. In the bathroom, a freestanding concrete tub serves as a sculptural centrepiece, with a steam shower positioned discreetly behind it. Another flexible room on this level can be used as a home office or guest suite, complete with an interior window that provides a glimpse into the expansive living area below.

The home’s design embraces a minimalist approach to materials, creating a calm and uncluttered aesthetic.

The home’s design embraces a minimalist approach to materials, creating a calm and uncluttered aesthetic. In the main living areas, smooth concrete flooring contrasts with steel-clad support columns, lending an industrial edge to the space. The bedrooms incorporate warm wood floors that maintain clean lines and the simplicity of the overall design. For the powder room and primary bathroom, stone adds subtle elegance underfoot. This restrained palette extends to the exterior, where the dark metal framing and stained cedar columns subtly shift to balance privacy with openness along the facade.

In designing Frame House, Worrell Yeung used eco-friendly interventions to enhance both its environmental performance and its aesthetic harmony with the landscape. The flat roof includes photovoltaic panels to generate clean energy, along with trays of sedum plants that help manage rainwater naturally. The structure’s aluminium composite panels, crafted from recycled materials and low in VOCs, contribute to the home’s sustainable profile and can be fully recycled. With its seamless blend of minimalist design, open spaces and abundant natural light, Frame House embodies a modern yet timeless approach to architecture – one that aligns beauty with responsible living.

Architecture by Worrell Yeung. Build by Fifth and Dune. Landscape design by Sweetbay Landscape Design. Structural engineering by Silman. Mechanical engineering by Kolb Heating + Cooling. Civil engineering by PWGC.