Luminist Architecture of the Hudson Valley

Further Lane House, Amagansett, New York, 2010. This building was designed for a family passionate about entertaining and hosting gatherings. The program is divided into five discrete yet interconnected elements, in which three stone-clad structures and an outdoor pavilion enclose a glass box at the center. The orientation of the elements allows the house to be enjoyed in different ways: one can inhabit each independently, or, on busy weekends, let every part of the house and its views brim with the bustle of comings and goings. Upon passing through the gate, guests encounter a serene structure surrounded by a landscape of innumerable textures and colors — the house has been shaped around its views. Access to natural light and ventilation has been a priority. The ground floor is sheltered by cross-ventilation and opens to the outdoors. In fair weather, the heating and ventilation systems can be turned off, and by opening the floor-to-ceiling glass doors, the house can function as a pavilion. Throughout the house, various materials have been employed that further blur the boundary between inside and outside. Long, narrow strips of reddish-brown stone that clad the exterior volumes also appear inside, where they accentuate the structural walls. Reddish-brown wood windows lend warmth to the stone walls, which would otherwise appear excessively large. A system of well-insulated massive walls, along with geothermal and green roofs, has been employed to keep maintenance costs low. The smallest structure at the northern corner is a single-car garage that also provides space for storage and a studio. The volume beside it serves as a guesthouse, lit by a courtyard enclosed in frosted glass, outside of which a shower has been installed. On each side of a small courtyard, there is a bedroom with a private bathroom and floor-to-ceiling windows that offer views to the outside and access to it. Among the three buildings, the largest contains the children's bedrooms and the dining, living, and kitchen spaces. These rooms are flanked by windows on two sides that lead to the pavilion and the pool; nearby, an outdoor dining and sitting area completed by a fireplace is concealed behind a pair of concrete walls, with a canopy providing shelter. Above the stone structures, the fifth and most important element of the house floats: the master suite, enclosed in glass, which includes a library and study. On the second floor, a custom-designed partition wall features windows and panels that can pivot or slide open and shut. The bedroom opens onto a terrace and a green roof behind it. In the morning, the exterior glass is transparent and people moving inside are visible. In the evening, the glass takes on a soft blue hue — the same color as the pool below — and reflects the light. As the sun sets, drifting clouds and trembling leaves dance across the glass surface. Further Lane House, Amagansett, New York, 2010. Translated by Reza Amirrahimi / Photo: Jeremy Bitterman. Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects. www.twbta.com. Level 2 plan. Level 1 plan.