This contemporary oceanside home designed by Robert Young Architects provides a serene getaway in the rolling dunes of Hither Hills, Montauk, New York. Refined yet relaxed interiors characterize this year-round retreat for a family based in New York City. For this project, the architects devised a home that nestles into the site’s steeply sloping topography by configuring a series of terraced spaces that each offer varied experiences of the terrain and vistas of the ocean.

From the street-facing side of the property, the residence has the appearance of a low-slung, single-level pavilion. The exterior facade is clad with charred and natural cedar, concrete, and floor-to-ceiling glazing that maximizes views of the ocean while standing outside the front entry. The material palette selection helps the home to integrate with its coastal environment.

DESIGN DETAILS: ARCHITECT Robert Young Architects STRUCTURAL ENGINEER David Kufferman PE Structural Engineers GENERAL CONTRACTOR Artisan Construction Associates INTERIOR DESIGN Meyer Davis LIGHTING DESIGN Tillotson Design Associates LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Steven Yavanian Landscape Architect LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR James Grimes Landscape Design

What We Love: This oceanside home in Montauk provides a family with a fabulous seaside escape. The architecture of this home is sensational, from the material palette to the way the structure terraces down the hillside. We are loving how the project team conceived the home to appear unassuming on the street-facing side and completely open up on the backside of the home. There are plenty of opportunities to soak in views of the ocean thanks to this home’s incredible layout.

Tell Us: What are your favorite design features in this beach house project? Let us know in the Comments below!

Note: Check out a couple of other fascinating home tours that we have showcased here on One Kindesign in the state of New York: Beach retreat with Scandinavian style interiors in Montauk: Surf House and Serene lakefront home offers a beachy and casual feel on Lake Montauk.

On the interior, wood finishes provide a casual and comfortable living environment that is ideal for the beach lifestyle.

By integrating the dwelling into the hillside, the architect was able to create direct access to the outdoors from every level of the home. This also helps to create a different vantage point for views of the ocean. “Resolved like a three-dimensional puzzle, the layout creates a series of outdoor terraces that amplify the home’s indoor/outdoor atmosphere,” states Robert Young Architects. 

The architect collaborated with landscape architect Steven Yavanian to blur the lines between indoors and out. A staircase on the backside of the property helps to connect each of the levels, beginning from the top terrace down to the yard. As the staircase makes its way down to the bottom, it becomes more visually appealing with plantings and curves that help it transition to the yard.

PHOTOGRAPHER Michael Moran