MEET THE ARCHITECT

A BICOASTAL ARCHITECT FINDS A PLACE IN THE HAMPTONS

Why were you drawn to architecture? I started drawing when I was young, and then in high school picked up mechanical and architectural drawing. It was the perfect combination, and I stuck to it ever since. How would you characterize your style? Generally, my work is pretty modern. It's not extremely avant-garde. I aim to create architecture that people really like—innovative with warm, familiar materials. I also include a lot of indoor/outdoor connections. You grew up in New York and California. Did you come to the Hamptons in your youth? I actually spent time in Fire Island, but now I come out here and stay with friends. I spend a lot of time in Northern California and it's often too cold to go to the beach, but here it's really summer. I love it. We just lay low, hang out and eat well. Actually, I'm kind of a clam freak so I love to go out to Napeague Bay. Where do you live? Half the time in SoHo in a modern, minimalist loft and the other half in San Francisco. I have a house that I designed and built over the course of 10 years. Both places are up high with great views. How do you take into account the nature of the Hamptons when working here? Because of the resort atmosphere I tend to think more about lifestyle than specific architectural styles. And, of course, since this is Manhattanized country I always take into account the outdoors. You did Amagansett's Meeting House and Sagaponack's Townline BBQ. What do you like about restaurant design? I like designing spaces where everybody enjoys the environment as a group. Challenges with restaurants range from large to small; it's fun. You start with this big idea but then by the end you're selecting materials for the table top. I also really enjoy being in the food and beverage world. It's a great slice of culture to participate in. What defines good taste? Restraint and simplicity. What would be a dream project? Designing a small museum or a private gallery space. The program of creating architecture for art and people is a great one. Are there any local showrooms you regularly utilize out here? Urban Archaeology. There's a lot of things I just love there, particularly the light collection. What do you hope for your future in architecture? Well, my past trajectory is pretty good so I would like for my future to be a continuation of my past.