Juniper House Fire Island

Juniper House Fire Island
© Matthew Carbone Photography

Juniper House Fire Island

Paul Coughlin Annie Scheel Architects

LANDSCAPING
Manscapers Ny

MANUFACTURERS
Andersen Windows & Doors, Consentino, Resawn Timber

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Reilly Tarantino Engineering

AREA
2500 ft²

YEAR
2019

LOCATION
United States

CATEGORY
Fire Island

Text description provided by architect.

This Fire Island summer house is located in the Seaview community of Fire Island. Our concept for the architecture was to create a corner building to frame outside space, as an extension of the inside.

Juniper House Fire Island
© Matthew Carbone Photography
Juniper House Fire Island
© Matthew Carbone Photography

The "L" shape of the house creates a private enclave of exterior space to celebrate the cherished indoor-outdoor experience of Fire Island. A green buffer surrounds the other 2 edges of the site.

Planning of the square site required a precise arrangement of the house, pool, and sanitary system coverage. Primarily, the house and pool are positioned on the site to take advantage of the sun, wind, and views of both ocean and bay.

Juniper House Fire Island
© Matthew Carbone Photography
Juniper House Fire Island
© Matthew Carbone Photography
Juniper House Fire Island
© Matthew Carbone Photography

This configuration also allows the house to wrap the pool and deck as a privacy barrier from the adjacent public walk.

Functionally, the first floor is split at the entry into a south-facing living dining and kitchen zone, and a west-facing guest wing.

Juniper House Fire Island
© Matthew Carbone Photography
Juniper House Fire Island
© Matthew Carbone Photography

Bedrooms and a den are located on the second floor. A two-and-a-half-story vestibule and open stair draw the eye up to skylights framing the blue sky.

A modest roof deck allows for unobstructed ocean and sunset views. The house sits high above the sand allowing for a dramatic ramp to the main entry, a traditional fire island element.

Juniper House Fire Island
© Matthew Carbone Photography
Juniper House Fire Island
© Matthew Carbone Photography

Carbonized wood siding protects against harsh fire island weather and achieves a successful modern wood house aesthetic, aligned with the traditional Fire Island cladding.

The black siding canvas allows cuts, voids, and punches to be composed with windows, recesses, and overhangs hinting at the program inside.

Juniper House Fire Island
© Matthew Carbone Photography


Juniper House Fire Island
© Matthew Carbone Photography
Juniper House Fire Island
© Matthew Carbone Photography
Juniper House Fire Island
© Matthew Carbone Photography
Juniper House Fire Island
© Matthew Carbone Photography
Juniper House Fire Island
© Matthew Carbone Photography
Juniper House Fire Island
© Matthew Carbone Photography
Juniper House Fire Island
© Matthew Carbone Photography


Juniper House Fire Island
Section
Juniper House Fire Island
Axo


Juniper House Fire Island
Elevation
Juniper House Fire Island
Elevation


Juniper House Fire Island
Plan - Site
Juniper House Fire Island
Plan - Second floor
Juniper House Fire Island
Plan - First floor