Set in the scenic, sought-after Amagansett Dunes, 172 Cranberry Hole Road is a seven-acre property, designed by the renowned Lindy Woolcott of HRH Design Group. Represented by The Agnecy’s Dana Trotter, it boasts exceptional design and finishes, an impressive 11,200 square feet of living space and innovative architectural elements that blend harmoniously with the surrounding natural beauty.
Here, Lindy, the architect and designer of 172 Cranberry Hole Road, shares her vision behind the design, the inspiration drawn from the Amagansett Dunes, and the unique challenges faced in creating this architectural masterpiece.
Can you describe your vision and inspiration behind the design of 172 Cranberry Hole Road?
The main idea behind the design of this home is the concept of large monolithic walls cutting through 4 individual structures. These monoliths cut through the house on seven different angles, and the floor-to-ceiling windows allow for the lines to be seen from the outside through the house from one side to the other.
We also wanted to create a very private living space, with the center of all of the rooms facing the 7 acres and the large natural reserve on the south side of the house.
What elements of Amagansett Dunes and its natural surroundings influenced your design choices for this home? How did you bring nature and natural tones throughout?
The surrounding landscape was crucial to the design of the home. The colors and textures and the natural beauty are all reflected throughout with the use of natural raw materials and textural finishes. We used a marble dust compound for the fireplaces for example, with a rough sandy texture, in a light parchment color, which simulates the sand that surrounds the home. The property is an incredibly beautiful set of dunes with small black pines, pine needles and open vistas, with very few deciduous trees or vegetation.
How did you incorporate luxurious materials such as marble, limestone, and white oak into the overall design?
To us, the ultimate luxury is space, large rooms and open floor plans, which is then enhanced by the high-end finishes. We used large format marble tile in the primary bathrooms on the feature walls, marble mosaics in the showers and a Californian limestone tile throughout the house in the bathrooms and butler’s pantry and mudrooms for a cohesive look.
The wide plank white oak floors are a natural grade, we embraced the natural grain and knots, this house is meant to be walked in with sandy feet and while luxurious it is not to be precious and untouchable.
The outside patios, which run around the home, are a sandy-colored travertine that we sourced in Turkey and had custom-made. The powder room sink is custom-made from a veined Violetta marble from Europe. We also sourced large format aluminum windows from Europe, in a soft silvery raw metal that echoed the color of the surrounding sand.
The home features an 11,200-square-foot living space with walls of glass. How did you balance openness with privacy? What about this part of Amagansett makes it perfect for a private compound?
We managed to achieve privacy by creating a courtyard effect with the structures and centering all of the vistas on the exterior living aspects of the home. We have also planted large crepe myrtles, white pines and western red cedars throughout the property to increase the privacy of the property.
Because of the size of the site, neighbors are not an issue, finding a seven-acre parcel in the Hamptons is not easy, but it was a vital part of the project to enable us to build a home with large floor-to-ceiling windows in every room and still maintain complete privacy. This area of Amagansett is unique in that there are many large estates, completely hidden and separate from each other, and it has not been overbuilt like the Lanes or the Amagansett Dunes.
What are some of the unique challenges you faced while designing and building a home of this magnitude and detail?
It was a very lengthy process. Most homes we have built in the past have taken anywhere from a year to eighteen months. This house has taken almost 3 years from the design stage to completion. The planning of this project alone took us 2 years. The Town of East Hampton has very strict building codes for any new structures in dune landscapes. We spent a lot of time and money working out the best solution for the use of the site, while still maintaining its natural beauty.
It was always our goal to put the land back to its natural state after the structures were completed which entailed a revegetation plan and research into native plantings and also engineering calculations to excavate, hold and replace the existing sand without taking any away from the site or bringing in any new sand or fill.
The gourmet kitchen has a ceiling clad in rough-sawn pine beams. What was your intention behind this design choice?
The intention with the rough pine ceilings was again a nod to the surroundings and the black pines surrounding the home. We also wanted to give the spaces a feeling of having been there before, not all new construction with no soul, but the warmth and familiarity that comes with using the old wood beams and the textured raw woods.
There is a wonderful flow throughout the home, can you describe how you managed to create this?
A large part of what makes our company different is the attention to the lifestyle of the owners. Quite often an architect will lose the flow of a home and sacrifice it to the overall aesthetic and vision. It is always a priority for us to build a home based on how people live their day-to-day lives and how they entertain.
The kitchen is the heart of the home, but it is also one of the most considered and beautiful spaces because we know the family living there will spend most of their time in that space. The house is a series of connected volumes, with very few doors on the ground floor, but we still achieve the private spaces with the use of the large monolithic walls cutting through the volumes creating divisions.
A significant aspect of the flow is having large glass openings to the outdoors so that you can “see through” the house to the exterior from all angles in all locations.
What was your vision for the outdoor spaces, especially the infinity edge pool and the wellness structure with a gym and infrared sauna?
Part of the experience of living in Hidden Dunes has always been the wellness aspect of life. The home is so peaceful and zen and the emphasis is on nature, relaxation, spa treatments and rejuvenation of the senses.
How did you incorporate sustainable and eco-friendly practices into the design and construction of this home?
The home has been built with solar panels, high-efficiency equipment and closed-cell foam insulation for maximum energy efficiency. We also used reclaimed wooden beams and installed recirculation heating to keep the water usage down.
Can you discuss the smart glass privacy windows and other technological innovations integrated into the home?
Technology has made home building way more fun. The innovations in equipment and hardware are amazing, we have even incorporated a thumb print lock entry which is set to the owner’s thumb print, and/or their family members.
We also have electric privacy glass in the bathrooms, so that you can either have the full view of the surrounding landscape, or at the flick of a switch the windows will become completely opaque and you have total privacy from family or friends by the pool.
What considerations were made for future-proofing the home in terms of technology and sustainability?
To create a sustainable home is simple. Use the best materials and build with longevity in mind. Technology is always changing, but some of the technology we use is advanced and simple to use.
We incorporated the Alisse lighting system in the house so you can turn off all the lights in the home when you leave, or only light portions of a room at any given moment. I think this technology will be used in more homes going forward because it is so easy to use and can be used remotely, but for now, it is still very expensive and only viable in expensive properties.
The equipment and thermostats are all wireless and remotely controlled, something which will be taken for granted by most homeowners in the future, but is still being developed and used in high-end homes. We also installed the Starlink internet service—they will quite possibly lead the way in satellite communications going forward.
Which aspect of the design are you most proud of, and why?
That is a very hard question to answer. I think the most significant achievement has been building a home that feels that it belongs in the space it is in and that nature is still a massive part of the enjoyment of this home. Sometimes you can go into a beautiful house and there is no connection with the outside world. It just exists as its own entity. This house is remarkable in its connection to nature and the sense of well-being you feel being there.
What was the most rewarding part of working on this project?
I think finishing it was the most rewarding part! It was a true labor of love.
How does 172 Cranberry Hole Road reflect your design philosophy and approach to architecture?
Philosophies are dangerous because you need to be flexible when building a house. No two are ever the same and the land always dictates so much of how the house needs to be designed. In general, though, I think we would agree that the difference between a house and a home is how good you feel when you are in it.
Good architectural design will put a waterproof roof over your head, great architectural design will give you a sense of well-being and calm and joy. It should feel effortless. Light and nature need to be highlighted and celebrated.
What’s next for you and HRH Design Group? Are there any upcoming projects you’re particularly excited about?
We are always working on something. Our next project may involve a vineyard, but it is in the works and under the radar for now. Stay tuned!
To arrange a private tour of 172 Cranberry Hole Road, contact Dana Trotter.
All images courtesy Real Shot Studios
