Watermill North

Perched atop an elevated hillside in the Hamptons, Water Mill North commands sweeping views across the surrounding coastal landscape toward the Atlantic Ocean beyond. The renovation approaches the existing residence with a contemporary sensibility, carefully reinterpreting its architectural character while introducing a more open and fluid organization of space. Rather than replacing the identity of the original structure, the design seeks to reveal its latent potential through a series of strategic interventions that improve circulation, maximize natural light, and strengthen the home’s connection to its extraordinary setting.

The project is organized around a reimagined spatial hierarchy that simplifies movement throughout the residence and aligns daily living spaces with the surrounding views. Existing rooms were selectively opened and reconfigured to create a seamless progression between public and private zones, allowing the architecture to feel simultaneously expansive and intimate. Generous openings establish visual continuity across the interior, while carefully framed vistas continually draw attention toward the landscape and water beyond.

A defining architectural gesture is the introduction of a fully glazed stair pavilion positioned along the northern elevation. Extending from the lower level to a new rooftop terrace, this transparent vertical volume replaces a series of disconnected internal stairways with a singular circulation spine that unifies the entire residence. More than a functional intervention, the stair enclosure becomes a lantern-like element that transforms the character of the home. By capturing soft northern light throughout the day, it introduces a luminous quality to the interior while establishing a visual counterpoint to the solid massing of the existing structure.

The relationship between interior and exterior is further strengthened through the reconfiguration of the building envelope. Expansive glazing and large sliding openings dissolve traditional boundaries, allowing the principal living spaces to extend naturally onto a generous stone terrace and pool deck. Protected beneath a deep gabled canopy, these outdoor rooms become a natural extension of daily life, providing shaded gathering spaces while maintaining uninterrupted views across the landscape. The architecture continuously negotiates between shelter and openness, creating an environment that is both protected and immersed in its surroundings.

Material selections reinforce this dialogue between tradition and modernity. Warm natural finishes, restrained detailing, and a palette of stone, wood, glass, and metal establish a sense of understated elegance throughout the residence. The simplicity of these materials allows natural light, views, and spatial volume to become the primary architectural experience.

At the culmination of the vertical journey, the glazed stair pavilion emerges as a subtle rooftop structure that opens onto an elevated terrace overlooking the Hamptons coastline. From this vantage point, the residence fully embraces its setting, offering panoramic views of the ocean, surrounding landscape, and changing sky. The result is a home that balances architectural clarity with a deep sensitivity to place—an elegant transformation that reconnects the residence to its environment while creating a contemporary retreat defined by light, openness, and the enduring beauty of the coastal landscape.