WHEN A MANHATTAN COUPLE DECIDED TO BUY A BELOVED BEACHFRONT PROPERTY, THEY KNEW THEY WANTED TO BUILD A HOUSE THAT WAS SIMPLE AND RELAXED, WHERE THEIR FAMILY COULD SPEND WEEKENDS AND SUMMERS. AFTER COMPLETING TWO PROJECTS WITH MR, IT WENT WITHOUT SAYING THAT THE FIRM WAS THE BEST FIT TO HELP THEM REALIZE THEIR DREAM.

THE PROPERTY INCLUDES A DRIVEWAY, A CAR PORT, A 5-BEDROOM MAIN HOUSE, A SMALL CABANA WITH A GRILL FOR OUTDOOR DINING, AND A POOL WITH A DECK AND A RAMP ACROSS THE DUNES TO THE BEACH AND OCEAN. THE MASSING OF THE MAIN HOUSE INCLUDES TWO VOLUMES WITH GENTLY SLOPING ROOFS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, SEPARATED BY A NARROW VOLUME FOR THE ENTRY AND STAIRS. THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOUSE AND ROOF ARE CLAD IN CEDAR. IPE WOOD WAS USED FOR THE FRONT STEPS AND POOL DECK. THE REAR FAÇADE, WHICH FACES THE OCEAN, IS A FLOOR-TO-CEILING WALL OF GLASS WITH SLIDING DOORS AND CONCEALED, RETRACTABLE AWNINGS. THE WINDOWS ON ALL OTHER FAÇADES ARE PUNCHED OPENINGS IN VARIOUS SIZES.

THE INTERIOR IS SIMILARLY SIMPLE WITH A NEUTRAL MATERIALS PALETTE THAT INCLUDES BLEACHED OAK PLANKS FOR THE LIVING ROOM FLOORING, WALLS AND KITCHEN MILLWORK. ON THE GROUND FLOOR, THE KITCHEN OPENS TO A DOUBLE-HEIGHT GREAT ROOM WITH DINING AND LIVING AREAS. ON THE STREET SIDE OF THE HOUSE IS AN EXTRA GROUND-FLOOR DEN AND GUEST ROOM, LAUNDRY AND POWDER ROOM. THE EAST WALL IS THE HOUSE’S REAR FAÇADE THAT OPENS TO THE POOL DECK. THE BEDROOMS, LOCATED UPSTAIRS, INCLUDE A PRIMARY SUITE WITH MAXIMAL VIEWS OF THE OCEAN AS WELL AS A WINDOW THAT OVERLOOKS THE LIVING ROOM.

THE APPROACH TAKEN FOR LANDSCAPING WAS OPPOSITE THAT TAKEN FOR A TYPICAL HAMPTONS HOME. RATHER THAN A MANICURED GRASS LAWN WITH NEATLY TRIMMED HEDGES, NATIVE SPECIES WERE PLANTED WITH THE IDEA TO BRING THE DUNE FORWARD AND AROUND THE HOUSE TO ACHIEVE A CONSIDERED VERSION OF A NATURAL LANDSCAPE.

PHOTOS: ERIC PIASECKI