O
ne of the true joys of the East End is its architecture, particularly as many of the highlights of summer take place in and around memorable East End structures. The rich visual diversity of history and design in the Hamptons has something for everyone—from Southampton’s Halsey House of 1660 to the new Parrish Art Museum. Starting your drive in Quogue, head down Main Street past a church designed by Stanford White, going toward the historic Quogue Field Club and the Shinnecock Yacht Club of 1887. This historic area has many fine examples of turn-of-the-century summer-colony architecture. Then head east down Dune Road. This narrow strip of barrier land, up to Tiana Beach, has some of the most eclectic architecture you will find on the East End. All these 26 | May 2014
homes share the commonality of being designed for beach living. Dune Road offers everything from the shingle-style homes of the 1880s to the postmodern homes of the ’60s and the modern steel-and-glass structures of 2014. Next, it’s off to Southampton Village for a jaunt down Gin Lane. This street is filled with the homes of the old and new world titans of industry. The privet-lined street is comfortable with the juxtaposition of traditional gables and ultra-clean lines of modernism. There are few streets in the Hamptons where you can experience sights like the storied shingled gables of the Meadow Club and St. Andrew’s Dune Church, then turn the corner and walk past work by famous East End architect Norman Jaffe on your way past stunning modern masterpieces like Calvin Klein’s house.
Arriving in Bridgehampton, take a right at the monument and head down Ocean Road, passing the colonial architecture at the square and the new Topping Rose House. First head south to the ocean, past Sam’s Creek. The last street on the left is called Surfside Drive. Head east. This tiny little street has the entire field guide to American architecture built on it. You start with shinglestyle architecture and progress to everything from adobe-style architecture of the Southwest to one of the finest examples of Frank Lloyd Wright– inspired design on the East End. Turn around and head north to the storied village of Sag Harbor, where you will find homes of the great whaling captains dating back to the 1700s. This corridor leads to the main thoroughfare of historic buildings on Main Street. Go down to the
Hamptons
Behind the Hedges