Mark Bullivant, principal at SAOTA, reveals his 5 essentials for designing a home that connects to nature at the firm’s Montauk project on Long Island.
This project is a multi-level home on a sloping site near the eastern tip of Long Island, a few hours from Manhattan. Speaking from the project, Bullivant shares the 5 essentials for designing a home that embraces its context and expresses a deep connection to nature. The home’s desirable southern orientation, ocean views and staggering cliff-like location proved a valuable jumping off point, and the firm has distilled their steps to achieving a residence connected to nature.
For Bullivant, one of the 5 essentials for designing a home that feels connected to the natural environment within which it exists is harnessing natural light. “Because the property is south facing, we were able to use quite a lot of glazing on the southern facade,” says Bullivant. “What’s great about the large expanses of glazing is it really allows the occupants to keep to the rhythm of the site.”
The large glazing systems employed at this project not only allow for uninterrupted views, but they can be retracted completely, facilitating a seamless connection between indoor and out when the doors are open, particularly in the summer months. It’s undoubtedly one of the 5 essentials for designing a home that is inherently connected to nature.
As well as this, the consistent flooring – which appears to extend seamlessly over the threshold from the internal spaces to the outdoor terrace –exists in harmony with its environs. The same notion was applied to the ceiling, which is “carried through to reinforce the visual connection to the outdoors,” says Bullivant.
SAOTA’S approach to the layout and spatial programming, which steps down as one moves further through the building, is also one of the 5 essentials for designing a home connected to the landscape. At the Montauk project, it enhances the presence of the outdoors by orienting the experience towards the views. “You’re not looking through furniture and are far more connected to the environment. You’re able to live in the view.”
Another of the 5 essentials for designing a home connected to nature involves the exterior materiality. At Montauk, it is defined by a palette of highly durable and contextually relevant materials including charred timber cladding and local split face granite. This combination has played a pivotal role in settling the structure into the landscape.
Working with the terrain and following the site’s topography was the last of the 5 essentials for designing a home that is harmonious with its site. Here, the garage sits at street level before the rest of the home falls away with the sloping site towards the beach. This minimises the home’s visual impact to the street and ensures passers-by can see the horizon over the home’s roofline.
These 5 essentials – from the expansive glazing and site-sensitive materials to the landscaping that envelops the structure’s edges – culminate in a home that, while grand, expresses a visceral connection to its immediate context.
00:00 – Introduction to 5 Essentials for Designing a Home
00:19 – Harnessing Natural Light
01:15 – Consistent Interior and Exterior Materials
01:54 – Architectural Devices
02:50 – Resilient and Contextual Materials
04:21 – Longevity and Durability Strategies
05:09 – Considering Visual Clutter
06:04 – Crafting A Functional Layout
06:43 – Incorporating Landscaping
07:34 – Working with the Terrain
08:33 – Spectacular Moments
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Photography by Thomas Loof.
Architecture and interior design by SAOTA.
Filmed and edited by O&Co. Homes.
Production by The Local Project.
Location: Montauk, New York, United States
The Local Project acknowledges the traditional territories and homelands of the Indigenous peoples in the United States. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our respective countries and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.
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