The location of the plot, a narrow piece of coastal land in between two ponds combined with the environmental challenges of the site, influenced in a significant way, the design of this house. To avoid flood risk, architects created the “Tamsen House” as an elevated platform, with the minimum footprint to the ground, in order to protect the natural environment. This sustainable approach is also applied in the selection of prefabricated elements and of a resilient constructive system. 

This house is located on a narrow piece of coastal land in between two ponds in Southampton, NY. While the program is typical of a house in the area, the environmental challenges of the site directly inform the
design approach.

Due to flood risk, any new structure in the region is required not only to be lifted above a high base flood elevation, but also to meet strict zoning guidelines.

Our design approach consists of introducing a new datum to the project by means of an elevated platform.

Below this structure, non-habitable spaces such as a garage and storage areas are located and enclosed with permeable partitions to allow for the free flow of water in case of flooding, and to establish a visual connection from the front
of the lot to the pond at the rear. Above the platform, a monolithic volume houses the residential program. While its sloped roof resembles vernacular constructions, the cladding is conceived in zinc panels to increase resistance against the harsh coastal climate and reduce harmful rainwater run-off.

The house balances protective resilience with a sense of porosity. Taking advantage of the elevation offered by the new datum, a series of terraces are carved from the upper volume, connecting north and south views, and creating large outdoor living spaces in direct relation with the leafy grounds and adjacent bodies of water. Indigenous plants are preserved as much as possible to improve the ecological value of the property and reduce requirements for irrigation.

This project seeks to be an infrastructure for environmental awareness.

Our sustainable approach toward the minimal disturbance of the existing ground, resilient constructive system and materials, and maximization of pre-fabrication, investigates the potential of establishing a larger framework of ecological decision-making, a prototype for positively contributing to the built environment.

Credits & Details

Project Name: Tamsen House
Location: Southampton, NY, United States
Year: Expected 2024
Area: 350 m2
Client: Ali and Lori Tamsen
Architect: Fernando Fisbein Architect
Renderings: BS ARQ
Project Awards:
2023 Architizer A+Awards, USA
2021 AIA Tri-State Design Award, USA
57th AIA Long Island Archi Award, USA

About

Fernando Fisbein Architect was established in New York in 2020. The practice’s work is devoted to the concept and details of every project, in order to achieve solutions that are architecturally, socially, and intellectually meaningful.
Always mindful of context, understood in the broadest sense, Fernando Fisbein Architect strives to reinforce in its projects a sense of belonging — to the people, to the place, and to the moment that we live in — embracing diversity and history while expanding the range of contemporary expression.

Fernando Fisbein is a licensed architect in the United States and Brazil, and a member of the American Institute of Architects. The studio is a certified MBE in New York State.
Fernando holds a Masters in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University, New York, US, a Masters in Art History from Escola de Música e Belas Artes do Paraná, Brazil, and a Bachelors in Architecture and Urbanism from the Universidade Católica do Paraná, Brazil.
Prior to starting his own practice, Fernando worked under the mentorship of Peter Eisenman, Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, Enrique Norten, Jaime Lerner and Marcos Bertoldi, in groundbreaking projects of multiple scales, complexities and processes.

Awards
2023 Architizer A+Award, USA
2021 AIA Tri-State Design Award, USA
57th AIA Long Island Archi Award, USA
20th Opera Prima Award, Brazil
Archiprix Prize, The Netherlands
Studio
Fernando Fisbein Architect DPC
50 Underhill Ave #3
Brooklyn, NY 11238 USA
+1 (646) 404-2421
[email protected]