East End House: A Serene Year-Round Retreat with Modest Early-Modern Styles and Detailed Construction

East End House is located on Long Island’s East End, New York, sits on a bluff overlooking the water. It is a serene year-round retreat designed by Andrew Franz Architect with 3,000 SF in size. Completed in 2019, this house is contemporary but it has modest early-modern styles that inspired the client. The detailed construction also supports the high-performing home vision to serve the next generations.

Rooms

The living spaces of the house open outward toward the beautiful landscape, lapping waves and also catching cool breezes in summer. In winter, these spaces orient inwards toward a warm wood paneling and cozy two-sided fireplace. The dramatic external rooms are created by the broad cantilevered overhangs, providing additional shade from the summer sun as well.

Design

East End House is contemporary but also makes a big reference to the modest early-modern dwellings at the same time. This house settles into its natural environment, prioritizing the views, outdoor living spaces, and the new and old-growth trees. It uses its low profile to minimize its presence on the house site. The board-formed retaining walls and the large board-formed concrete pier support the cantilevered porch.

Materials

A familiar regional palette of bluestone, copper, and red cedar sophisticate the construction methods incorporated and passive house strategies that also include energy-recovery ventilation, a continuously insulated envelope, thick insulated framing, and a green roof. These materials provide both environmental and visual reward benefits.