OPEN HOUSE
Enter Michael Pagnotta, who is the architect at the head of a true design-build firm based in Ship Bottom that specializes in custom shore homes and has experience designing for narrow and otherwise-challenging lots. Pagnotta and the Freemans met to discuss the project, including the Freemans’ tastes, lifestyle, and preferences for building materials. When the Freemans saw Pagnotta’s plans for the design of the house, they agreed to have his construction firm build it as well. “We were a lot more comfortable dealing with the builder that designed the house; then we wouldn’t encounter any surprises,” explains Freeman. “The house is designed from the inside out,” notes Pagnotta. “We made sure that form follows function, and the forms are arranged to maximize views and facilitate day-to-day living. We maximized the space and created an open great room consisting of kitchen, dining, and living functions, all of which required views to the bay.” And the view is what Freeman likes best about this house: “I have a couple boats, and it’s nice to have access to them, but what is nicer is having that water shining through all the windows? When you look out the windows, you don’t even see the ground; all you see is water.”
40 BAY MAGAZINE SUMMER 2016