Barn Again: The Barn Makes A Comeback in the Hamptons

In the Hamptons, barns come in all sizes, shapes and functions. From the modern barn design for chic homes to the subtle architecture of a famous art museum, to a tony store in East Hampton, the traditional barn, long associated with potato farming on Long Island has been reinvented into a modern day icon here to stay.

Alfonso Giaquinto, President of Plum Builders in East Hampton and his wife Mary have been in business for 30 years. The Modern Barn (their registered trademark) is designed by the internationally recognized design firm, Alexander Gorlin Architects. The envelope of a barn has big open floor plans with high ceilings and lots of open space reminiscent of the lofts in Chelsea. Exterior materials such as stone, clapboard siding, cedar roofs, and wood trim are used in modern ways. In the interior, there is always a room that resembles a barn where the ceiling is open and trussed. Walls are taken away in an “open planning” that gives multipurpose flexibility to the living space. There are nine-foot high sliders and doors on the first floor, with upper level bedrooms en suite. There is an abundant use of glass in order to bring the outside in. Outside, there are covered fireplaces and summer kitchens for outdoor entertaining. As their motto goes, “One can live with the best of the past in the present while ready for the future in the Modern Barn!”

Jeffrey Rosen, Creative Director of Yankee Barn Homes, has recently completed projects in the Hamptons in the modern barn style.
The Laurel Hollow, built in 2012 in East Hampton is a 5,208 sq. ft. home with a unique modern barn appeal. It emphasizes “volumes  of open space,” lots of light and floor to ceiling windows, where the outside is brought in. The standing seam metal roof and board & batten siding evoke the modern barn motif. A great room with post and beam ceilings made of natural timber creates a very spacious and nurturing environment.
The New Parrish Art Museum recently opened in Watermill in November 2012.  Although not by design, the newly constructed building that tripled the original museum’s exhibition space to 34,400 square feet, evokes many of the features of traditional barn architecture with a modern twist. Designed by the internationally acclaimed architects Herzog & de Meuron, The New Parrish Art Museum is an architectural delight. The shape and form is of two long adjacent winged structures jutting diagonally out into an open field. Metal roof overhangs cover the exterior concrete walls and benches. The interior of the museum has a cathedral ceiling with exposed wooden rafters and skylights facing north, creating lots of natural light and space. It is truly a remarkable setting for exhibiting artwork.

RLL & Co., the Ralph Lauren store in East Hampton, opened in the summer of 2008 and resides in a beautiful old historic barn. The cedar shake barn has sky-high ceilings with large wooden rafters inside a great open space. The interior space emphasizes the Vintage rugged design of the clothing, with its country style. Old surfboards are displayed above and blend in with the natural wood. It is a unique experience to enjoy designer clothing in an historic venue.
The barn motif is quietly making its mark in the Hamptons, as it has captured the imagination of homebuilders, is subtly felt in the new architecture of an iconic art museum, and has classically showcased
a renowned designer brand. The barn has collectively brought them
all under one modern, yet historical roof, reminiscent of a past era
on the East End.

Ruth Thomas, a freelance writer on the East End enjoys history, music, literature, art, nature, the beach, and her cute dachshund, Clancy. She can be contacted at [email protected].
~Ruth Thomas