Bates Masi + Architects Renovated the Far Pond Residence with Hurricane-Proof Prefabricated Panels
The stunning Far Pond Residence has a naturally weathered wood skin and large windows overlooking layers of wetlands, an estuary and the Atlantic Ocean. Located on a half-acre site on the east end of Long Island in Southampton, this modern family dwelling is actually a renovated 1970s kit house. Its extension and tasteful modernization was designed by Bates Masi + Architects, who used prefabricated materials and new technologies that minimized waste and elevated the experience of inhabiting the space.
The client/owner of this two-story residence is a New York-based events planner with a keen eye for architecture. She wanted to keep the existing 1970s house structure while doubling its size to gain more interior space. The new addition would include a generous kitchen to accommodate her city friends over the weekends and large dinner parties.
Instead of just mimicking the existing architectural language–a wooden post-and-beam skeletal structure–the New York-based architects respected the original aesthetics but created a constant dialogue with a new contrasting addition. The addition was built on a prefabricated panelized system made from a light gauge metal folded for added strength and rigidity. The steel panels don’t just solve structural issues, but resist hurricane-force winds.
Some of these steel panels feature a perforated design that cleverly reflects the sunlight over the windows and doors, changing the interiors’ light quality throughout the day. Other panels featured in the house have laser-cut fins that accommodate shelving, seating, and countertops. The same perforated material was used for the long dining room chandelier, the stair’s platform, and the desk.
Bates Masi + Architects have exhausted the possibilities of one single prefabricated and strong material, minimized the necessity for additional components, and eliminated construction waste. And at the same time, they gave the house a great structural strength that is both beautiful and resilient in our post-Sandy world.
See more amazing sustainable homes by Bates Masi + Architects here.
Photos courtesy of Bates Masi + Architects
