Côte de Sagg? Sagaterranean? You decide.
Thinking out of the box always interests us. Traditional wood-frame shingle houses have hundreds of years of history on their side. And for good reason—their form and materials harmonize with our landscape. Departing from this standard requires an architectural leap of faith. Sometimes it works, when the new elements create an altered aesthetic; sometimes it doesn’t, and instead of a building with integrity we are left merely with a theme. With this in mind, we decided to examine an unusual Mediterranean style villa on Sagg Pond, on the market for $8,950,000.
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Architecture: There is no one word answer. The style has references to the Riviera, Tuscany, and Palm Beach. Multiple derivation aside, the result is surprisingly ordered. Certain elements, such as a loggia overlooking the pond, seem inherently right. The nagging question is context: what is gained or lost when a house that is dressed for Cap d’Antibes settles down in Sagaponack?
Site: Terrific five acres, with pond and sunset views to the west, reserves on north and south, Sagg Main Street address.
Condition: Mediterranean reveries in an Atlantic climate require nurturing, and this place is new and well tended.
The inside word: With a few pretty close calls, this property skirts the danger of arriviste pretensions, of being a meridional trespasser on a quintessentially Hamptons site. Enough judgment and restraint went into the design so that it is not excessively thematic or, thank God, overly serious; it boldly manages to convey a Côte d’azur spirit in a pleasant and straightforward way. In an age of globalization, this notion of crossover shorelines deserves attention.
In the beginning…Gin Lane version
Our first true summer homes were built in the 1870s, after the Long Island Railroad began service to Southampton. As it happened, local residents were glad to sell parcels of land near the ocean at reasonable prices since that land was generally less desirable for farming. This venerable estate has the double distinction of being one of the few surviving houses from the earliest days of the summer colony and of being directly on the ocean, which was not yet in fashion.
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Architecture: Restrained American colonial is a time-honored style, intrinsically correct in the Hamptons. Decorative shutters and other twentieth century accretions, however, do not sit awfully well with the original 1880s three-story gambrel-roofed structure.
Site: Two and a half oceanfront acres on Gin Lane with formal gardens, high hedges, and a separate carriage house just about define what constitutes a Southampton estate.
Condition: A lot can happen to a house in 120 years. Although it is well maintained, the focus here right now should be on weeding out inappropriate details and preserving the historic beauty. A sensitive restoration (landmark status guidelines permitting) would return this estate to a preeminent position in Hamptons architecture.
The inside word: This property has the potential to be more than just another playground for the super-rich. Its curved semi-circular sunroom overlooking the dunes is inspired in shape, scale and placement, easily one of the most beautiful rooms in Southampton. Along with location and the nineteenth century pedigree, it all adds up to something important. Does it also add up to $11,500,000 in value? We leave it to the market to give us that answer.
Chateau à la mode.
Construction will soon finish on the 11,000 square foot stucco “chateau” by architect Harry Bates on 2 prime acres on Further Lane. Would-be Marie Antoinettes may be tempted to go “up the down staircase” in the 34 foot high entry foyer with double curved staircases and immense skylight. And for decision-makers, or decision-shirkers, the choices continue: facing fireplaces in the double height living room, 4 dishwashers at critical locations, his and hers master baths (one vaguely egalitarian touch: they share the solarium), one kitchen for everyday and one catering kitchen (let them eat designer cake), double laundries. Ca va sans dire, every amenity, including 50 foot heated pool, has been designed into this six bedroom pleasure palace. What else can one say? Remember history, and at the first sign of revolution, watch your heads. $6,900,000.
Builder’s Own
Brokers can’t resist talking up a “builder’s own house,” implying that standards are somehow higher for those who can swing a hammer. We give more credit to builders: the ones we know always do their best. The more interesting question, to our mind, is what the builder, with his vast array of informed choices, actually chooses in style and materials and all the many details essential to a successful house. So we took a critical look at one luxury builder’s own luxury home that happens to be on the market, and rated it according to this page’s criteria.
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Architecture: Shingle style exterior with interesting shapes and components. It’s impossible to specify a style inside other than to say it’s sumptuous, wide ranging, and includes virtually every trend of recent years.
Site: Intensely landscaped two and a half acres with pool, tennis and lots of privacy. The western end of Skimhampton Road is not typical estate area. It’s certainly good, and we leave it to potential buyers to decide if $5,295,000 is the right value.
Condition: Only three years old, the house and property are in tip-top shape. It is clearly a well-built house, with no early telltale signs of compromise.
The inside word: If your tastes are eclectic this could be your dream house. Purists beware, however. The builder chose the best and latest of everything, and we emphasize everything, including the kitchen sink (farmhouse style of course). Results hover between a high end product showroom and a very grand statement of a house. This bravura construction and embarrassment of riches taps into a real market, and will sell.