Bridgehampton Refuge

RBLA partnered with Robert Young Architects to fashion a contemporary, private refuge for a New York City family. Longtime clients of Renée’s tasked the team with re-imagining all their outdoor living areas. Their work included a new Lautner-edge swimming pool, pool house with shade structure, outdoor fireplace and kitchen, a new covered main house porch and extensive plantings that shape outdoor rooms and provide full privacy from the street and neighbors. RBLA also reconstructed their tennis court with an advanced cushioned surface finished with a custom color coat developed to resemble damp Har-Tru to blend with the soft greens of the surrounding landscape.

The grounds were graced with several heritage specimen trees that RBLA preserved as part of the new composition. The new swimming pool is used as a mirror to reflect the sculptural forms that surround it. All amenities of the pool area and landscape are deliberately simple and restrained so as not to distract from the natural beauty of the trees and their fluid under plantings. Working with Nathan Orsman, RBLA’s landscape is at once subtle and dramatic by night.

Adding both new specimen trees and transplanting existing ones where required, robust plant massings coax the visitor to explore the landscape from varying vantage points. Weathering wood details of the entry gate and pool fencing provide artful security, privacy and deer protection. Textured, imported limestone paving frames the pool, is cool underfoot, and creates pattern overlaying the verdant ground plane.