Category: Architecture

Stony Hill, a project completed by Bates Masi, stands as a testament to the rich history of Amagansett, an early English and Dutch settlement on Long Island’s East End. Nestled between meadow and woodland, this home for a young family pays homage to its roots, drawing inspiration from the site’s agrarian history and connection to the early settlers. The site, once cleared by Native Americans for hunting purposes, evolved into the location of the first settler’s house in 1680. It later served as communal grazing pasture, separated into individual plots with low stone walls. For generations, the land, livestock, and human intervention worked together to help stabilize the landscape. However, as farming declined and property values went up, the meadow is transitioning to woodland, losing its connection to a significant piece of history.

Bates Masi’s project aims to revive and reference the agrarian history of the site through thoughtful architecture and landscape design. The land is divided into zones mirroring the original pasture parcels, each designed to meet modern needs. High grasses and shrubs provide a visual separation from the road, while medium-height grasses screen the house from those approaching. Low grass and ground cover offer views when needed. Elevated planting zones along the approach emphasize historic connections to the land, offering a unique experience for those in passing.

Stony Hill is separated into smaller volumes that relate to specific zones – public, private, guest, and service spaces. The connected gabled volumes give nod to barn-like structures, yet they’re designed with a modern spin. The gabled roofs feature splits in the ridges which allows natural light to flood the top floors.

Materials play a crucial role in connecting the contemporary design with historical references. The home is clad in oversized shingles found throughout the are. Thatch siding, reminiscent of the pasture’s grasses, is packed between exposed exterior framing resulting in a modern look.

Built-in seating spans the length of one wall flanking the kitchen and dining room, ensuring plenty of places to sit when company is over.

A sunken living room wraps in front of a fireplace, one of many situated in the public spaces to encourage family gatherings.

Natural materials, such as oak, clay tiles, and plaster further integrate the house with the surrounding landscape, creating a warm and cozy ambiance.

The warm woods used throughout evoke a sense of comfort without leaning towards rustic.

A second story bedroom located under the steeply sloped ceiling has a modern A-frame feel.

Photography by Bates Masi + Architects.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.

Breaking away from the conventional, Toronto-based architecture firm StudioAC designed the Everden Residence to be “unapologetically contemporary,” while still paying homage to the traditional notions of a “house.” The three-story home plays with the idea of offset stacked boxes, creating a visually captivating structure that seamlessly blends form, space, and design. The architects at StudioAC aimed to transform the archetypal gabled roof from a mere icon into a spatial experience that tells a narrative through each floor.

What sets Everden apart is the deliberate decision to extend the gabled motif to the ground floor, which is typically cubic space. This move enhances the sense of “house” throughout the living spaces, making it feel as if each tier is on its own.

The emphasis on the experience of space allowed StudioAC to work flexibly within the client’s budget plan and vision: to create a home that’s impactful without indulgence. Everden’s exterior showcases a cladding of corrugated metal that’s durable, affordable, and familiar. With meticulous attention to detail paid on each level and parapet, the cost effective material appears high end, resulting in the perception of neatly stacked boxes.

The minimalist, neutral interior is elevated with the peaked wood ceiling that runs from the front of the house to the back. This strategic move not only adds a touch of grandeur but also allows other details to take a backseat, proving to be a more cost-effective approach without compromising on impact.

The main level is flanked by walls of windows on the front and back, creating a light-filled space not often achieved on the ground floor of a house design like this.

The top floor houses the primary suite, also featuring an open layout with the bedroom and bathroom at either ends and the closet in the middle. On the back side, the main bathroom includes a floating tub centered in front of windows looking out to the covered deck.

Passthroughs on either side of the open closet connect the primary bedroom to the bathroom.

Model of the Everden Residence in the hallway of the house

Model of the Everden Residence

Model of the Everden Residence

Photography by Doublespace Photography, courtesy of v2com.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.

MPavilion is Australia’s leading architecture commission, celebrating a decade as the country’s “cultural laboratory” as of 2023. MPavilion 9, designed by Thailand’s all(zone), is a standout orange marquee that delves into the potential of tensile architecture. The canopy resembles a low lying cloud, using flexible materials for a light and ethereal look, which filters the summer sun through three layers. In September 2024, it will move to its permanent location in Victoria.

Lauded with honors, MPavilion 9 has been received eight Australian and international awards thus far. They include Winner in Architectural Design – Cultural, BLT Built Design Awards 2023, Gold, Architectural Design & Social Impact, Good Design Awards 2023, Jury Winner, Architecture + Colour, and Architizer A+ Awards 2023. The project was also shortlisted in the Best Use of Colour and Completed Buildings – Culture, at the World Architecture Festival Awards in November 2023.

The structure was recently gifted to RMIT University and will be relocated to its new home at the Brunswick campus with an official opening on September 1, 2024. The marquee will be located at the heart of the campus’s central courtyard just in time for the new semester, inviting visitors and passing students to stop and explore further.

“We are delighted that all(zone)’s MPavilion will be relocated to RMIT’s Brunswick campus, a campus focused on a range of design disciplines,” says Naomi Milgrom AC, the Australian business leader, philanthropist, and founder of her namesake not-for-profit. “We hope that the pavilion’s innovative design will inspire students and visitors alike at its new permanent home.”

Rachaporn Choochuey, co-founder and design director of all(zone), said “We hope our collaborative efforts with MPavilion will inspire people to reflect more on how our built environment can help us to live better ‘together’.”

The temporary structure’s canopy consists of three successive layers of flexible composite materials. Two membranes used in the project were specially developed by Serge Ferrari for tensile architecture and solar protection. The top layer was constructed with Soltis Horizon 86, built using fishing nets to showcase its weightless appearance.

For the middle layer, 250 square meters of STFE membrane was added to weatherproof the venue. It was specifically developed for high structural resistance and transparency, with this project being the first time it was used in Australia. STFE, one of the developmental highlights used in the construction of the project, is made from lightweight polyarylate mesh that’s 10 times lighter than glass. It provides structural strength for large free-span designs, and minimizes the need for additional supporting structures and cables. It’s easy to install and guaranteed to last for more than 30 years, making it an ideal choice for those trying to minimize waste and avoid replacement in the future.

Lastly, the bottom layer was crafted from 1,400 square meters of Soltis 86, a mesh screen manufactured using patented Précontraint technology. Assembled into a waffle-like pattern, the fabric filters the sunlight, creating a play of brightness that delights visitors.

When the MPavilion is brought to life, it kicks off a five month long design festival full of free events where visitors are invited to consider how architecture, art, and design change lives. So far, it has hosted 3,400 events with 4,000 individuals and organizations over the past ten years. When the season draws to a close, each installation is gifted to the people of Victoria and relocated to a permanent home in the community.

Since 2014, the Naomi Milgrom Foundation has invited architects from around the world to design a meeting place for the Queen Victoria Gardens, located in the heart of Melbourne. MPavilion also reflects a broader cultural approach, one that seeks to celebrate the overlooked diversity and depth of aboriginal cultures.

To learn more about MPavilion 9 and discover where you can visit past editions across Victoria, click over to MPavilion.org.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she's likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.