Architects Update 1970s Sagaponack Modern Spec Home

A lot has changed in the last 50 years in the architecture space, not only in the way that houses are built, with new codes and regulations, but in the aesthetics as well, thanks to different materials used, design processes and styles.

“If you think about how somebody lived in the 1970s, the rooms were more compartmentalized, windows were a little smaller,” said Philip Consalvo, the principal at boutique architecture firm PJCArchitecture. “In today’s world, a lot of rooms are more open, there’s open flow, there’s paying attention to how the inside connects to the outside.”

So when the firm was tasked with taking a 1970s Sagaponack spec home and turning it into something modern, they jumped at the chance to transform what was already there and retrofit it into something new.

“The uniqueness of the house is the integration of the existing house with new elements,” said Nandar Godoy-Dinneen, a senior associate at PJCArchitecture. “That also makes it unique compared to old houses that were renovated to look like they were old but new, or just building a new house; this one actually is a combination of those two elements.

“Our intention was to show those two elements, the 1970s house with the new elements of 2025.”

There were numerous challenges along the way, including how the existing structure was designed: with three disparate volumes that meant the house had no flow from one section to the other.

“The current dining room was formerly the garage: You had to go through a little hallway down some steps to get to it, so that was separated from the kitchen. In order to get to the family room, you had to go down that staircase, then go up another staircase, and get up to the family room level,” Consalvo explained.

“All of the components of the house were disjointed and just not flowing in a way that was working.”

To fix this, PJCArchitecture added a core stairway to the side, which was able to serve all the levels. This enabled someone to easily go from the kitchen to the dining room or from the kitchen to the family room.

“By adding that core, that suddenly helped to make everything make sense and fall into place,” Consalvo said. “That stair was very special because it really was a small gesture that turned out to be a big gesture that really made the house work. It’s this sculptural element, which is cool to look at, but it really helped to solve the problem of the house. So we were proud of that.”

Another problem that needed to be addressed was the way the house is situated: To enter the property, guests need to go up a long driveway from the street that winds around to get to the entrance. That means the house is in its own enclave and is not visible from the street. While that makes the house unique, it also created a situation where it might be confusing for guests to find the entrance.

“Instead of going to the main entrance, guests were jumping over and going to the kitchen, which is right there as soon as you enter,” Godoy-Dinneen said.

The solution was to install plantings and architectural screens to create a separation, giving it a visual connection, while also serving as a buffer that directs guests to the correct entrance.

At the same time, the angle of the house also had a major benefit: By installing large windows in the living room, you’re now able to look right onto the lawn, which features a wall of trees.

“It allowed us to connect the inside and outside and do stuff that we may not have done if it was on a typical street,” Consalvo said.

There was a secondary benefit to keeping the existing structure, rather than tearing it down and starting fresh. The project could be done in a more sustainable way, which was important both to the firm and the homeowner.

“The clients were very sensitive to the house that they picked,” Godoy-Dinneen said. “They wanted to be sustainable and not tear it down and just build something new. That probably would have been the easier way to do it, but they really want to keep the side and the exterior parts, and just connect it, or do it with more modern elements, and to just create something new out of this existing house.”

The core staircase also fits into the sustainability angle, as it now has long, tall windows, allowing natural light to come in.

“By creating this core, we also were able to bring natural light and more heat into the space,” Godoy-Dinneen said. “We also connected it to the back of the house, so the front to the back connects visually through the windows.”

Another unique feature includes the primary bathroom, which was raised up on a high part of the house in a prominent place, giving it a great view. Now, thanks to an added trellis around the shower, which creates a privacy screen so one cannot look into the shower, it can look completely open from inside, depending on the time of day.

“It created this glowing volume of light,” Consalvo said.

The architects also did an expansion of that bathroom, creating an outdoor shower on the roof; due to the way that the roofing is set up, it’s completely private.

Ultimately, the most important thing for both Consalvo and Godoy-Dinneen was the relationship they created with their client. They spent a decade working on this project, and were able to watch the family grow over that time.

“We consider ourselves a boutique firm, meaning that we try to do something special for whatever the project is,” Consalvo said. “We say it’s like making a couture suit versus going to Macy’s and buying something. So every project that we have we consider really special. We try to really get involved with the client and with the site and do whatever we can do to create something that solves problems, looks great and is good for the environment. It’s an important mission for us. And this project really ticked off a lot of those boxes.

“They were an ideal client, because they had the same sensitivities and aesthetic, and they really understood why we should try to make what’s there work, and how that would become something more special. They certainly have the means to knock it down and start again, but they chose the other route.”