Hillside House
North Hempstead, N.Y.
David Jay Weiner, Architects, P.C.

A dwelling perches with dignity high above Long Island Sound

For more photos click on 'photos & drawings' above.

This three-bedroom, single-family house on hilltop property is a response to a densely wooded, exceptionally steep site near Long Island Sound with views south. An existing concrete slab of a former house is utilized as a departure point for a new structure.

The 2,400-square-foot house is tucked into the hill and approached from a long, steeply sloped driveway with an existing garage located at the lowest level of the property. An elevator takes visitors from a midlevel parking area up to the main level of the house. Organized on four separate levels with a new garage entry at the lowest, the house opens up with a terrace at the basement, which serves as a separate entrance to a home office/media room. The main floor above contains the living, dining and kitchen areas, as well as a large cantilevered terrace for maximum appreciation of the view. The top floor contains two bedrooms and a master bedroom suite. The exterior skin is a combination of aluminum frame window walls and aluminum perforated mesh panels juxtaposed against solid stucco walls.

The house is conceived as a series of overlapping spaces defined by three slightly sloped roof/wall forms that blur the distinction between public and private space. The interior rooms are informal and can be opened to merge with the more public spaces in the house. Translucent materials of glass and metal used both on the interior and exterior further reinforce the concept. Large exterior glass walls can also be opened to blur the distinction between inside and outside and are positioned to take advantage of the view as well as the privacy afforded by the remoteness of the sight. The house is designed to be relatively inexpensive both in construction and maintenance. As much of the sight as possible will be left untouched and restored.

Formal name of building:
Hillside House

Location:
North Hempstead, N.Y.

Gross Square Footage:
2,400 sq. ft.

Owner:
Mr. Allyn Ehrlich

Architect:
David Jay Weiner, Architects, P.C.
(212) 674-0355

Project Team:
David J. Weiner, Andy Saunders, Dana Bettinger

Structural Engineer:
Robert Silman Associates, P.C.

Contractor:
Liberty Management & Construction Ltd.