beach houses : andrew geller

by alastair gordon

weekend utopia

by alastair gordon

The Hamptons, New York's fashionable summer beach resorts, are well known as weekend havens for city-dwellers who relish their idyllic setting on the Atlantic shore. Once quiet agricultural land, Eastern Long Island first became popular among artists, architects, writers, and society patrons in the 1920s, when it served as a breeding ground for modernism. From the avant-garde influence of luminaries like Jackson Pollock, Robert Motherwell, and Willem de Kooning, to the high modernism of Le Corbusier, Philip Johnson, and Richard Meier, new ideas about art, architecture, and modern living transformed the Hamptons and ultimately made it the destination of choice for those seeking respite from the battles of Wall Street and Madison Avenue. In Weekend Utopia Alastair Gordon traces this fascinating and complicated trajectory, both in architectural terms-looking at modest beach houses and modern mansions alike-and in the life stories of the world-famous artists and designers, whose influence is felt on "The Island" even today. Over 175 photographs and illustrations detail the architecture, interiors, and nuances of these beautiful weekend homes, and provide an intimate portrait of the people who inhabit them. This engrossing book combines architectural history with a broad social perspective and paints a comprehensive picture of an area that in many ways shaped modern American culture.

fire island modernist / horace gifford

by christopher bascom rawlins

As the 1960s became The Sixties, architect Horace Gifford executed a remarkable series of beach houses that transformed the terrain and culture of New York’s Fire Island. Growing up on the beaches of Florida, Gifford forged a deep connection with coastal landscapes. Pairing this sensitivity with jazzy improvisations on modernist themes, he perfected a sustainable modernism in cedar and glass that was as attuned to natural landscapes as to our animal natures. Gifford’s serene 1960s pavilions provided refuge from a hostile world, while his exuberant post-Stonewall, pre-AIDS masterpieces orchestrated bacchanals of liberation. Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift once spurned Hollywood limos for the rustic charm of Fire Island’s boardwalks. Truman Capote wrote Breakfast at Tiffany’s here. Diane von Furstenburg showed off her latest wrap dresses to an audience that included Halston, Giorgio Sant’ Angelo, Calvin Klein and Geoffrey Beene. Today, such a roster evokes the aloof, gated compounds of the Hamptons or Malibu. But these celebrities lived in modestly scaled homes alongside middle-class vacationers, all with equal access to Fire Island’s natural beauty. Blending cultural and architectural history, Fire Island Modernist ponders a fascinating era through an overlooked architect whose life, work and colorful milieu trace the operatic arc of a lost generation, and still resonate with artistic and historical import.

long island modern

by guest author alastair gordon

Long Island Modern: The First Generation of Modernist Architecture on Long Island, 1925-1960 Paperback – January 1, 1987

bespoke home bates + masi

by harry bates

introduction by paul goldberger

To respond to the unique opportunities of each client and site, Bates Masi + Architects has developed an approach, rather than a devotion to a particular style. Careful study of the needs of the site and owners uncovers a guiding concept particular to each project. It may be derived from the owner’s interests, the site’s parameters, or the character of the place. That concept is distilled to its essence, just a few words, such that it can inform the design at all scales, from massing, to materials, to details. The consistency of the concept is evident in the finished product. It imbues even small details and simple materials with meaning, thus making the mundane memorable. The result is an architecture that is cohesive, innovative, contextual, and full of details that delight. Bespoke Home, the first monograph of Bates Masi’s 50 year career, highlights the firm’s process, illustrating how a concept is derived from the various influences of the site and client, how that concept informs the design process, and how the concept is manifest in the experience of the finished house.

long island modernism 1930-1980 by caroline rob zaleski

an essential reference for architecture buffs, historians, and everyone who lives on or visits long island today, this unique resource―the first illustrated history of long island’s modern architecture―is based on a survey conducted for the society for the preservation of long island antiquities (SPLIA). it highlights the work within suffolk and nassau counties of a roster of twenty-five internationally renowned architects―among them wallace harrison, frank lloyd wright, marcel breuer, edward durell stone, richard neutra, william lescaze, gordon chadwick for george nelson, ludwig mies van der rohe, philip johnson, paul rudolph, and richard meier.

the houses of the hamptons

by paul goldberger

According to New York Times architecture critic Goldberger, the Long Island towns of East Hampton, Southampton, Bridgehampton and the other areas that collectively comprise "the Hamptons" are "perhaps the wealthiest second-home communities in the world" and are "famous for modern architecture." He provides a perceptive tour of the Hamptons, but the detailed comparison of building styles and discussion of the architects going back to the 17th century who have left an impact will primarily interest only specialists in the field. The abundant photos of breathtaking houses are arranged alphabetically by architect, a few of whom contribute their own perspectives on buildings in the area. The rarefied world of the Hamptons isn't a viable playland for all, but anyone can enjoy a visit via the pages of this showcase.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

romantic modernist: the life and work of norman jaffe architect 1932-1993

by alastair gordon

Early one day in the late summer of 1993, the famously prolific architect Norman Jaffe went for a swim at the beach in Bridgehampton, New York, as he did almost every morning. But on this particular morning, he never returned. With his disappearance, Jaffe left behind many unanswered questions—not only about the cause of his death but also about the nature of his architectural legacy.

Romantic Modernist: The Life and Work of Norman Jaffe, Architect is the first book to explore Jaffe's body of work and the inner struggle that shaped his life. One of the earliest architects to be treated as a sex symbol, Jaffe was, in fact, much more than that. A magnetic, free-spirited individual, he is best known for the strikingly sculptural houses he designed in the Hamptons, which he approached from an almost mystical point of view: with the right proportions and materials, he believed, houses provide a path to self-discovery. Through interviews with Jaffe's closest friends and associates, Alastair Gordon traces Jaffe's career trajectory from his early years on the West Coast through his increasingly celebrated life in New York, giving readers a rare look at the creative process of this seductive, enigmatic architect.