Design: A Fortress That's Out Of This World

The experience of visiting a new house in Springs by Barnes Coy and Associates Architects is like taking a vacation to an imaginary kingdom. The road leading to it winds through the wooded hills near Springs to the old Bell Estate, where it climbs and then dips, ending like the final flourish of a roller coaster.

And there before you are the craggy stone ramparts and soaring heights of a 21st-century castle. A cautious glance about discerns two choices - walk down the rest of the driveway to the subterranean level or go straight ahead across the footbridge that links the parking court to the front door.

Sunken Pool

This bridge, foreshortened in photographs, is actually quite long, allowing time to peruse the view. To the left is an open meadow bordered by trees, to the right the continuation of the surrounding hill, wooded and protecting.

Below is the biggest surprise of all, a swimming pool, sunk within the thick stone walls that form the base of the house. In a second or two you have safely crossed the moat and are greeted by the front door.

A turn to the right and up two steps to the left and the fortress dissolves into a vast view of Gardiner's Bay. It is breathtaking because it is so unexpected.

Chris Coy and Robert Barnes readily confess to working out the turn at the entrance on purpose, almost taking advantage of the giddiness of height. They also explained the problems of designing the house to span the hilly site while staying within the restrictions of waterfront property and building codes.

Engineering Tour De Force

But being there you realize that the result transcends the nuts and bolts of setbacks, engineering, and the practical planning of 4,000 square feet of living space. Moving through all the spaces, from the vast open living room at the top to the master bedroom suite one level down and then down transparent glass-backed stairs to the lower level, is really exhilarating.

There is also no denying that this is an engineering tour de force. The stone ramparts and walls are the footings for the intricate and almost delicate network of steel that frames the house and roof. The rest is glass, a curtain wall of glass facing the water, and smaller triangles of glass in the roof where skylights are really continuations of the windows.

Inside, floors of marble and bluestone stretch toward the glass but appear to hang suspended, with the glass running a foot or so below the floor level. In the living room a horizontal rail of steel finished in soft gray offers security to the fainthearted and a seat to those brave enough to turn their backs on the view.

Luxurious Woodwork

To offset the rough texture of the limestone walls and the cool expanses of window, the interior finishes are mostly wood: teak, cherry, maple, and, in the kitchen, exotic bubinga.

The detailing of the woodworking, inset splines of contrasting maple, unusual shapes, and satiny smooth finishes invite closer scrutiny and draw attention inward from the wider view. Although the rough limestone walls are intended to have the unfinished, rugged effect of ancient ruins, the refined woodwork is truly luxurious.

All of this was accomplished over 18 months with intense supervision on site and in the selection of materials. The limestone required trips to Pennsylvania and the marble two journeys to Georgia.

Signature Door

Robert Kessler, a mason, built all the stone portions, including the 11-foot-long solid slab that serves as the fireplace mantel. Visits were also made to Woodstock, N.Y., to consult with the cabinetmaker, Stephen Robin.

Ken Davis, a Barnes Coy associate, functioned as construction manager. Case Brothers of Hampton Bays did the woodwork and Grains of Wood, an East Hampton firm, made the mahogany doors that have become Barnes Coy's signature. These doors have a partitioned center panel that can be fitted with clear or sandblasted glass or with wood, depending on the privacy and light requirements.

In the master bedrooms one of these doors glides easily into a pocket in the wall. When closed and latched the door drops down and is locked in position, preventing drafts and leaks around all its edges.

Nature All Around

Another interesting and practical device is their trademarked bathroom mirror, with sandblasted edges that cover the lighting in one clean sweep, eliminating the question of sconces and adequate light.

The owners of this house, a couple with children, have used the house on weekends since last summer. However, they are taking the time to refine their decisions on the interior furnishings and are working with the architects to find just the right pieces -a continuation of the creative and collaborative process. They will make their selections as they experience the house through the seasons.

In this house nature is not an element to be taken lightly. It is above, beneath, and all around you and is constantly changing. And it is nature that makes this house seem even more out of this world.