Big Plans Brew For A Barn At Madoo - 27 East

Residence

Residence / 1378399

Big Plans Brew For A Barn At Madoo

icon 3 Photos
The barn at Madoo is in for a major renovation. COURTESY ALEJANDRO SARALEGUI

The barn at Madoo is in for a major renovation. COURTESY ALEJANDRO SARALEGUI

The barn at Madoo is in for a major renovation. COURTESY ALEJANDRO SARALEGUI

The barn at Madoo is in for a major renovation. COURTESY ALEJANDRO SARALEGUI

One of the first orders of business will be to add a foundation to the barn at Madoo. COURTESY ALEJANDRO SARALEGUI

One of the first orders of business will be to add a foundation to the barn at Madoo. COURTESY ALEJANDRO SARALEGUI

author27east on Oct 31, 2016

The first time the artist and gardener Robert Dash visited a particular 2-acre plot of land in Sagaponack, he saw a cow—and endless potential.He was standing in a circa-1740 barn, which would become his painting studio in the rambling garden he called Madoo, now a horticultural treasure, conservancy—and future home to a residency for gardeners and artists alike, following in the tradition and footsteps of the late Mr. Dash himself.

But before the residency program can begin, the original barn, and the summer home attached to it, will need a major face-lift.

With approvals from the Town of Southampton Landmarks & Historic Districts Board and Village of Sagaponack Architectural and Historic Review Board in place, the $1.1 million restoration was slated to begin this week, according to Bridgehampton architect Kathrine McCoy. They will start with the barn’s foundation, or lack thereof.

“The barn itself, which is the studio, does not have a foundation and it is, we suspect, on locust posts. We won’t really know the full extent of how much damage there is to the floor joists of the structure until we lift the building,” she explained during a recent telephone interview. “But it’s likely that they’re in pretty poor condition, because they’re likely in contact with the ground.”

Once the building is braced and stabilized, it will be lifted. The ground underneath is scheduled to be excavated next week for the foundation’s footings, walls and new floor joists. After four to six weeks, the barn will be put back down on its new foundation before phase two begins.

“On the studio itself, there are currently big tarps on the roof because the shingles are paper-thin in places and it leaks like a sieve, and the sidewall shingles need replacing,” Ms. McCoy said. “It’s a drafty building at all times.”

Once the 30-by-50-foot barn is rewired and the furnace is replaced, work will begin on the façade, Ms. McCoy said. This will include fresh shingle siding, exterior trim and new windows and doors.

“The intent is for the building to appear as it always has once the shingle siding is weathered,” she said of the future studio, which will be used by artist-residents who stay in the summer house. “There’s not much, in terms of exterior materials, that can be salvaged. It will be new and improved, but it will be exactly as it was. And it will be weather-tight, stable and strong, and hopefully there for another 100 years or more.”

Attached to the 25-foot-tall barn are two 19th-century sheds that were connected to each other in the 1980s, and that make up the summer residence. Their interiors will remain the same, Ms. McCoy said, but new windows, siding and roofing will be installed.

“It’s not going to be different, it’s just going to be freshened up. The barn is in much poorer condition than the summer house—in need of a lot more TLC. The barn is desperate, the summer house is to complete the whole building,” she said. “We are hoping to be ready to open for the summer season next year, so May 2017.”

It is unclear whether the residency will be under way by then, according to Madoo Conservancy Director Alejandro Saralegui, as it is still in its infancy.

“With two residences on the property, it would be a shame not to use them to their fullest,” he said in a recent email. “We are thinking that the shoulder seasons would be the most logical times to run the proposed residency program. We’re still trying to figure out the parameters of who we would like to invite to stay at Madoo for one- or two-month-long residencies.

“Additionally, we are considering a season-long residency for trained gardeners at Madoo,” he continued. “With increased visitor-ship from programming, tours and open days, we have a greater need for gardeners on a daily basis. Creating a garden residency at Madoo would be a wonderful opportunity for a young gardener—and the garden would benefit.”

You May Also Like:

Phenology: Seasonal Cues Turn Plants On and Off

We often forget that so many things turn plants on and off. There’s air temperature ... 24 Apr 2025 by Andrew Messinger

Bridge Gardens Offers Vegetable Gardening Class on Saturday

Interested in growing your own vegetables this year? Peconic Land Trust’s Bridge Gardens is offering a workshop to demonstrate how to do just that. Garden director Rick Bogusch will share tips to ensure a robust harvest all season long on Saturday, April 26, from 1 to 3 p.m. The workshop will include recommendations for selecting and starting seeds, supplies to encourage germination and timing for transplanting in warmer weather. Admission is free to Bridge Gardens members. Others are encouraged to donate $5. Reservations are required, and rain cancels.​​​​ Bridge Gardens, a 5-acre public and demonstration garden, is located at 36 ... 23 Apr 2025 by Staff Writer

April Can Be One of the Most Dangerous and Challenging Months for Gardeners

April can be one of the most dangerous and challenging months for gardeners. We can ... 17 Apr 2025 by Andrew Messinger

'Radically Reimagining' Sustainable Design at Oza Sabbeth

Several years ago, Nilay Oza and the rest of the team at Oza Sabbeth Architects ... 16 Apr 2025 by Cailin Riley

An Ode to Roses

For a flower found so abundantly across the chapters and verses of great literature, it’s ... by Christine Sampson

Composting for Dummies

“There are more microbes in a teaspoon of healthy soil than are people on the ... by Jenny Noble

Decorators-Designers-Dealers Is June 7; Donations Being Accepted Now

The Southampton Fresh Air Home, a special needs summer camp in Tuckahoe, will hold its 33rd annual Decorators-Designers-Dealers Sale and Auction Benefit Gala on Saturday, June 7, on-site. Often called the “The Greatest Tag Sale on Earth,” the Decorators-Designers-Dealers Sale features a selection of designer furniture and one-of-a-kind auction items set against the backdrop of a cocktail party at the start of the Hamptons social season. The event begins with a benefactors and sponsors hour at 4 p.m. and then opens to all ticket holders at 5 p.m. Proceeds from the fundraiser ensure that no child is denied the opportunity ... 15 Apr 2025 by Staff Writer

Why the Big Deal About Native Plants?

April is Native Plant Month in New York State. You may be wondering why gardening, ... by Alicia Whitaker

Peconic Estuary Partnership Offers Homeowner Rewards Grants

The Peconic Estuary Partnership is now accepting applications for $500 grants for homeowners in the Peconic Estuary watershed to remove turf and pavement and add alternatives to benefit the environment such as rain gardens and native plant gardens. PEP’s Homeowner Rewards Program is designed to encourage homeowners to make a positive impact on the local estuary and its bays by preventing fertilizer pollution from entering local waters. PEP asks homeowners to take the Reduce Nitrogen Pledge and consider how they can lessen fertilizer use by following the Long Island Nitrogen Action Plan nitrogen fertilizer recommendations. To qualify for a grant, ... by Staff Writer

Water Authority Launches Online Tool To View Tap Water Quality

The Suffolk County Water Authority has announced the launch of a new online tool that gives customers the most precise view yet of the quality of the water delivered to their taps. Now available on the SCWA website, the tool allows customers to access detailed water quality information tailored to their specific location, according to SCWA. “With SCWA supplying drinking water from more than 600 wells across 243 different sites throughout Suffolk County, the new feature provides unprecedented insight into local water quality,” a statement from SCWA reads. “Our customers deserve the most accurate, transparent information about their drinking water,” ... by Staff Writer