Mohegan Trail
Designed by Bates Masi + Architects for its principal, Paul Masi, Mohegan Trail connects to both the ocean and the landscape, embodying the relaxed spirit of Block Island living while becoming a testing ground for the firm’s design reasoning.
Situated about 22 kilometres off the coast of Rhode Island, Mohegan Trail is immersed in a calm holiday environment. Like many of the island’s homes, the residence is designed for short stays, offering a place for the visiting family to unwind in nature. “The property appealed to me because of its proximity to the surfing beaches,” says Masi. “It was originally occupied by a home that was barely holding on, but I knew that we could get a couple of summers out of it to understand the landscape and microclimate.” The brief reflected the simplicity of life on a holiday island, calling for subtly varied spaces that maintain a sense of comfort.
As there is no freight barge to Block Island to carry materials, only a passenger ferry, Bates Masi + Architects adopted the traditional framing method used in nearby buildings. From this constraint emerged a Douglas fir structure that, left exposed internally, forms the foundation of the interiors. “Designing a house for yourself as an architect is like a lab experiment,” says Masi. “There’s a lot of education in living there and seeing how your ideas play out on a day-to-day basis.” Rather than being wrapped in plywood, the home features tongue-and-groove floorboards and cedar shake roofing, the oils of which naturally contribute to weather resistance.
The site is long and narrow, stretching from the street to the ocean. By placing the garage in front of the house, the architect establishes a clear transition from public to private. This move also pushes the home to the highest point of the plot, maximising views from within. “As you enter through the front door, you are greeted by a framed ocean vista,” says Masi. “An open living-kitchen-dining area follows, as well as a covered deck, which serves as an extension of those spaces. The deck offers bleacher-style seating down to the landscape.” Inside, the bedrooms are distributed across three levels, allowing the lower third of the house to accommodate a children’s bunk room and recreation area.
“It’s always important to find the essence of the place and what makes it so special,” says Masi. “In Mohegan Trail, there’s a reason why it looks the way it does, why it feels the way it does and how you live in it. To me that’s important because that is how it becomes timeless.”
Architecture and interior design by Bates Masi + Architects. Landscape design by Summerhill Landscapes. Structural engineering by Steven Maresca. Joinery by Peragine Millwork.
