MEET THE MAKER

THE ZEFFDESIGN PRINCIPAL FINDS EQUAL PLEASURE IN HIGH-TECH AND HOMETOWN STYLE

How'd you end up in the Hamptons? I have been working here since 1985 when I built a house for the owner of Artforum magazine. While working on this project I fell in love with the fact that, 90 miles from NYC, you could fish and be in such a beautiful natural environment. I looked for a pastoral location, as I felt the farm aspect was so soothing. When I saw a plot of land in Bridgehampton, I knew this was the spot I could build my dream home. What's a favorite project you've completed here? A newly constructed modern farmhouse and barn that sits in the middle of a cornfield in Sagaponack. It's a cross between rural and modern—the design pays homage to the East End's agricultural roots and took inspiration from existing farm structures. A day off, where would we find you? On the beach with my family after a half-day fishing or a few rounds of golf. Or painting in my studio. At home, what product or service is worth going broke on? A Loro Piana cashmere robe and slippers—these are items I put on my body everyday, so it has to be the best. What material can't you get enough of? Hot rolled steel. It's metal it has a wonderfully soft, sexy feeling about it—not like steel. Name a place or culture with inherent style. Once you cross into Europe, it doesn't matter where. The European continent is the cradle of style; they've been doing it for so long. What's the biggest design risk you've taken? Undertaking a 65-acre master plan for Vision City, a development project in Las Vegas. It's a 20th-century architectural marvel. And despite all the doom and gloom, it might just be built after all. Whose work do you most admire? Ridley Scott. I watch one of his movies every month. The style of Blade Runner, taking period architecture and mixing it with modern fashion and technology, has influenced my work. I'm using giant fans in a restaurant I'm doing at the new W Hollywood. Shopping spree. Where to? Tokyo—I was just there for work. It is so far beyond anything we have in the U.S. as far as presentation, ambitious design and technology. Shopping there is a wonderland. I went to a chopstick store that had about 40,000 chopsticks and a fruit store where I bought white strawberries, which I'd never seen before in my life. Name something provocative that has been said about your work. That my business model has all the characteristics of a wolf pack…protective, innovative and true to ourselves. What projects are you really excited about? The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas—watch out! I'm also working on a great new hotel project in Hong Kong—this one might change the hotel paradigm. What do you do all day? I obsess all day. And I get paid to do it!