Alexander Residence

An existing cedar shingled ranch house from the sixties, set on a hilloverlooking Shinnecock Bay was completely renovated to extend and connect the residenceto the site. The exterior has been transformed by sheathing the house in cementboard panels and integrating a lap pool into the master plan. The plan, section, elevationsand material applications all serve the house’s relationship with its dramatic surroundings.The interior is linked to the landscape with new window openings that frame viewsand natural elements. The fusion of inside and outside is emphasized through continuity ofmaterials; the chimney that runs through the entire house is encased in the same cementboard used on the exterior façade; horizontally the connection is made by continuing tilefrom the kitchen floor onto the exterior terrace. Transparency is expressed through a viewencased by the front bay window and its reflection, a window beyond. Exposed trusses slipover structure, tying the front to the back and vertically expanding the interior space. Thehouse embraces the landscape by dematerializing the line between the inside and outside,enriching the experience of the site. The Alexander Residence has received a DesignAward of Honor from the New York Council Society of Registered Architects.