General Assembly adds "unexpected design details" to modernist Amagansett beach house

New York studio General Assembly drew on Californian modernism for the renovation of this 1960s villa in The Hamptons, featuring pine-green tiles and a stainless-steel soaking tub.

The studio also referenced the area's historic homes when designing the 1,400-square-foot (130-square-metre) holiday home in Amagansett in East Hampton.

"The 1960s cedar-shingled Amagansett beach bungalow really calls to mind the Hamptons of decades past, the incredible natural surroundings and the many humble, historic homes in the area," said Sarah Zames, who helms General Assembly together with Colin Stief.

"We also took a lot of inspiration from the 1960s and 70s work of local architect Norman Jaffe, who was known for reimagining the classic cedar-shingled house and creating architecture very much rooted in the landscape," she told Dezeen.

Together with Stief, Zames fully renovated the interior of the house, which is located in Napeague State Park close to the waters of Napeague Bay.

This location informed the design of the holiday home, which references Californian modernism.

"Playing off the home's location in Napeague State Park and being close to the water, we looked to the rugged modernism of California's Sea Ranch, adding softened finishes and details like wood millwork, patterned wallpapers and tile that echo the color palette of the surrounding shrubs and trees," Stief told Dezeen.

While the interior drew on the 1960s and 70s, the designers also wanted the holiday home to be suitable for the contemporary lives of the clients, a Manhattan-based couple.

"We wanted to make some strategic architectural moves to meet the needs of our clients' more contemporary lifestyle, while staying true to the spirit of the original house," Zames explained.

"For example, we carved out space for an additional bathroom and expanded the kitchen, a space where they both love to spend time. A double-height studio for Jeannie [Kim], a jewelry designer, was also a key feature of the new design."

The main bathroom features one of the home's many unusual design details – a soaking tub made from stainless steel, which is sunk into the floor and surrounded by sage-green tiles.

"We also added some unexpected design details and material choices to give the home a highly crafted, tactile quality, from the custom stainless steel soaking tub in the primary bath and graphic wood railing cuts out that casts beautiful shadows throughout the day," Zames said.

"I think these elements fit so naturally into this home, but also make it feel really personal and unique," Zames added.

Neutral beige and off-white colours are used throughout the house, with tiles adding colour in the bathroom, living room and the kitchen.

Throughout, General Assembly used nature-inspired colours and materials to nod to the state park in which the home sits.

"So much of the color palette was inspired by the incredible natural surroundings of this home," Stief said.

"The natural wood tones and greens, particularly the 'pine green' tile flooring in the kitchen, which is similar to the pine trees found in the surrounding park," he added.

"There is a lot of wood millwork used throughout the home as well, balancing the color of the tile, adding warmth and a lived-in atmosphere to the space."

Sculptural furniture and organic, rounded shapes add a playful touch to the interiors, with the living room featuring a kidney-shaped table, designed by the studio itself, and a high-backed woven chair.

"The curved forms really soften and balance the harder lines of the rattan sofa and vintage chair in the living room space," Stief said.

"I especially love the organic lines of the coffee table, a General Assembly design, which really grounds the space and plays off the other pieces in the room."

Other recent projects by General Assembly include a model residence in New York's 144 Vanderbilt development and a flat in a brutalist Manhattan tower.

The photography is by William Jess Laird.

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