"What would Gwathmey do?". House among the Dunes: the restoration

House Renovation among the Dunes in Amagansett, New York

We are in Amagansett, in the state of New York, where the architecture firm Worrell Yeung is commissioned for the renovation of the house known as House among the Dunes. Big fans of Gwathmey, initially the architects wanted to make as few modifications as possible. The residence is located on an elevated position on a one-acre lot, nestled among the sand dunes with ocean views. The large linear structure is clad in gray cedar and punctuated by voids cut into the facade corresponding to doors and windows.

Seamless Connection Between Interior and Exterior

Each room is skillfully carved out from the large external volume, immersing itself in natural light. The internal spaces open directly to the outside, creating a connection without interruption that extends all the way to the ocean through the polygonal pool. Drawing inspiration from Gwathmey's original designs, Worrell Yeung made subtle modifications for enhanced functionality while maintaining the integrity of the original design.

Building intervention: balance between renovating and preserving

The renovation of the exteriors involved the complete replacement of the building envelope, including the roof, cedar cladding, doors, windows, skylights, and the pool deck, all carefully designed to maintain the essence of the original design. Internally, the restyling involved a rethink of the kitchen area to create greater openness and connection with adjacent spaces and the pool area. A small but significant shift, such as the removal of a half wall, helped transform the original structure.

Reflections on the harmony of materials and finishes

The materials palette and finishes have been reinterpreted by the architects to reflect Gwathmey's original designs. From the white pine cladding to the laminate of the kitchen counter (which Worrell Yeung replaced with a similar material), the attention to detail is unparalleled.