Great Oak by Oza Sabbeth Architects

East Hampton, New York

By RECORD Editors

Architects & Firms

Oza Sabbeth

Location: East Hampton, New York
Project size: 4,500 square feet

Program: After purchasing a lush, forested site in East Hampton, a couple approached Oza Sabbeth Architects with the idea of building a primary residence in the style of a traditional East Coast–cottage and inspired by the New England aesthetic of gabled roofs. The design firm—which in early May split into New York City–based Sabbeth Projects and Oza Studio, located in Bridgehampton, New York—took on the project with the goal of retaining the clients’ original aesthetic drives while also creating something entirely new.

Design Solution: Oza Sabbeth iterated several roof-forms, experimenting with rigid geometric shapes as well as swooping ones. The final result merges the two ideas: a series of gables with pointed peaks that gently merge with the roof’s eave with a curving profile.

The clients’ desire for a clear internal organization, with living spaces on the ground floor and separate bedrooms on the second floor, led the firm to design a plan based on the idea of rotational symmetry. On the second level, three bedrooms—two of which are identical—center around the house’s circulatory spine, a double-height atrium with a floating staircase. The architects also emphasized clear sightlines throughout the house, connecting the living room, dining room, atrium, and kitchen spaces. Carefully executed cabinetry, curved details, and rounded furnishings tie into the overall design of this thoroughly modern yet historically informed house.

Photo © Nicholas Venezia

Structure and Materials: To realize a house that mirrors the vernacular cottages of the East Coast, the architects employed a restrained palette. Straight vertical wood siding is paired with a shingle roof, all in the same weathered and warm gray tones. On the ground floor, ample glazing and thin black column gives the house a modernist flair with crisp detailing.

Additional Information
Completion date: September 2024
Site size: 2 acres
Total construction cost: $5 million (house and landscape)
Client/Owner: Withheld