| Issue #33, November 10, 2006 |
FOURTH HOME IN ARCHITECTS’ PROJECT COMPLETED
By Oliver Peterson
For Hamptonites the word “Sagaponack” should conjure some very specific imagery. We think of farm stands, sprawling fields, spectacular ocean views, beaches, the little red schoolhouse, the general store, that old cemetery on Cemetery Lane, and houses — some lovely, some historic, others gigantic and absurd, and every one expensive. Sagaponack tops the list of the East End’s collection of pricey zip codes. It’s a beautiful place full of beautiful homes. The land has become a hotbed for real estate deals, subdivisions, contracts, preservation negotiations, and building — always building. As a place becomes more valuable, it’s only common sense that cheap houses will be removed to make way for structures more appropriate for their blue-chip acreage. We can only hope that what goes up remains tasteful in this age of the McMansion. The current trend leans toward postmodern shingle-style houses by Hamptons mainstay architects like Francis Fleetwood. Some developers, however, believe in modernism and choose to look forward instead of rehashing ideas from the past.
Last Saturday, November 11th, a reception was held to showcase and celebrate the completion of the Shigeru Ban and Dean Maltz House at 21 Forest Crossing on the north side of 27. The Ban Maltz house is the latest to be completed in the “Houses of Sagaponac,” a development launched by the late Harry J. Brown, and Richard Meier. When completed, the project will feature 34 modern homes designed by top international architects, many young, new and local, on a 65-acre site. As of now, four houses have been completed, four are under construction, and four are scheduled to begin construction next year. The Ban Maltz house is designated as House Number 4 and is influenced by a yet-to-be-built Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe brick country house.
Shigeru Ban’s geometric approach and his use of open space are evident upon entering the house. On Sunday the spacious living room was bustling with activity as various visitors, photographers, and assorted members of the press milled about admiring what project architect Nilay Oza called “a statement against McMansions.” Oza explained that for all its simple, modern elegance, the construction of the house was inexpensive, at about $300 per square foot.
One of the most alluring features of the structure was the massive amount of streamlined and well-concealed storage. The cabinetry and built in furniture is structural, fully modular, and prefabricated, requiring no skilled labor for onsite construction. This cost control is an integral part of the project’s overall vision.
The private and public realms of the home have been divided into two halves by a north-south wall. Each half is then divided into quadrants via an east-west wall. These four zones are enriched by individual gardens that integrate the interior and exterior spaces.
For this presentation it was appropriate that the furniture was provided by Design Within Reach, which — as their name implies — follows the modern, cost-effective theme. DWR has a showroom in East Hampton and is known for carrying classic designs by the likes of Eames, Le Corbusier and Saarinen at reasonable prices. For visitors’ further enjoyment, the Silas Marder Gallery graced the rooms and hallways with artworks from some of their top artists. Grant Haffner’s modestly sized yet striking paintings from his ongoing series of roads and telephone poles in vibrant acrylic color bring a sense of trajectory to one large, flat wall by the kitchen. Here one can also see Joe Andoe’s “Mid Continent (Deer)” silkscreen; a haunting image of a seven-point buck in crimson that, Warholian in execution, mimics the modern ideas of strength in simplicity. Marder has done a nice job showcasing his artists throughout. Like the architects chosen for the Houses of Sagaponac, the Marder Gallery is working with young, fresh talent. The pairing of the two feels natural.
The Ban Maltz house, the furniture and art inside, and the entire Houses of Sagaponac project is refreshing to see. While (McMansions aside) postmodernism in art and architecture is very often tasteful and attractive, the trend tends to feel a little safe and tired in a place where we can afford to take some risks and explore new territory. The works in progress, and those yet to begin, look promising. Expect to see the unveiling of Calvin Tsao and Zack McKown’s house number 36 this May. The 4,500-square foot, cube-shaped house should be a stunner and further proof that there’s hope yet for modernism in the shingle-crazy Hamptons.
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