House Water Mill by Office of Architecture on Long Island, New York

Project: House Water Mill
Architects: Office of Architecture
Location: Hamptons, Long Island, New York, USA
Area: 6,000 sq ft
Photos: Rafael Gamo

House Water Mill by Office of Architecture

House Water Mill is a beautiful modern home with an area of 6,000 square feet. It is located in the Hamptons on Long Island. The project was developed by the architectural studio Office of Architecture. The design consists of three sunken buildings, each performing its own function. One is for social interaction, the second for guests, and the third for family.

When our clients approached us with the proposal to design a fully equipped home of 6,000 square feet in the coastal town of Southampton, New York, our main concern was that the site — located in a FEMA flood zone and situated on land where approximately 50% is unsuitable for construction due to marshland — would not provide sufficient space or living areas to create a 'Hamptons home'.

Instead of fighting against the constraints imposed by the land, we saw this as an opportunity to create multiple distinct spaces that could exist below, above and between the building and landscape. The design of this project is literally high-end. The three sunken buildings — public, guest and family — elevate all heated zones and critical infrastructure above the flood zone. These buildings organize main interior spaces such as living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms and technical rooms, while the intermediate spaces between the house and the ground form a series of outdoor areas including a garage, internal courtyard, pool pavilion, terrarium and covered terraces.

– Office of Architecture