|
In the early 1990's, real estate developer,
Coco Brown, bought a subdivision in Sagaponac, Long Island, hoping
to create a community of residences designed by top architects.
After discussing his plan with Richard Meier, who in turn offered
to use his influence to help invite more than thirty-five internationally
renowed architects for the project, the Houses at Sagaponac transformed
from a dream to reality in March 2001. After architects agreed to
participate, they were sent an "owner's brief," which
delineated criteria such as restraint of gesture (avoiding modernist
tendencies to overlook basic elements for living such as closets),
modesty of size, a sense of introspection, respect for the country
setting, and an unpretentious sensibility.
The result is a collection of designs for thirty-seven
houses that defies the trend towards the "McMansions"
springing up all over the Hamptons. On sites from 1.5 to three acres,
the houses will range in size from approximately 2,000 to 4,500
square feet and in price from $1 to $3 million. In an introduction
to the book, American Dream: The Houses at Sagaponac, Coco
Brown writes that this development "is anti-subdivision, the
opposite of the usual, shoddy conformist repetition that has made
the very word subdivision a pejorative."
Showcased here are six houses currently under
construction that confirm the originality of this enclave; in fact,
the only similarities among the houses might be their modernity
and their unabashed display of talent and experimentation. From
the sleek renderings of the L-shaped house designed by Hariri &
Hariri Architecture to Samuel Mockbee's colorful drawings, reminiscent
of his work at the Rural Studio, (Sagaponac House 24 was his last
major project), the plans for these projects possess unique visions
of what a house in Sagaponac should be. All the houses were accomplished
with the aid of Brown and O'Dwyer Contracting and Construction LLC
and the engineering firm, Robert Silman and Associates.
Architectural Record will keep its readers
informed on the progress of this first batch of Houses at Sagaponac
with an update after their completion.
– By Diana Lind
Click here to view this month's Record
Houses.
Click the photos below to see more.
|
