Old Westbury Residence

The clean lines and carefully structured geometry of this modern Long Island home make a statement of aesthetic and style, while maintaining a natural connection to the surrounding landscape.  Characteristic yet subtle, the architecture exhibits a clear and exciting contrast from the neo-traditional residences in the surrounding areas.

Set back from the road and sited centrally on the plot, the structure is presented against a backdrop of old growth trees, and artfully carved to create a varied massing of solid and void, highlighted by a two story glass box eliciting views directly through the home to the landscape beyond.  The proportions of the structure work to minimize the effect of the two-story massing, emphasizing rather the horizontality of the elongated main level.

A minimalist yet characteristic material palette furthers this connection to the site.  Mahogany planks clad a majority of the façade, visually anchoring the home it to its natural surrounds, while much lighter elements of wood trellis and screen wall create and intricate layering of materials to lighten the overall composition.  The deeply projecting overhangs are clad in a crisp white metal panel, contrasting the subtlety of the black window frames and stone wall cladding.  Upon approach, visitors’ attention is drawn to the oversized steel clad window, it’s splayed and angular form contrasting to the home’s otherwise orthogonal geometry, jutting from the stone entry wall.