Pointer Perch

• “Pointer Perch”, a Fishers Island, NY retreat completed in 2022, is sited high on a rocky hill overlooking the Atlantic, surrounded by acres of protected woodlands, fields, and ponds. • The mantra for the design of the 1,200 square foot house was to build just what was needed for a couple and their dog, and nothing more. The owners desired a low maintenance, sustainable retreat with just a few generously sized rooms positioned to capture the surrounding views. • The house’s form was generated by a desire to climb as high as possible to capture the panoramic ocean views, with the living spaces placed at the top of the tower, and the bedroom below. A walk-out basement provides convenient storage for garden equipment. • The architectural style is influenced by the island’s eclectic shingled cottages, built at turn of the 20th century, reinterpreted in a contemporary dynamic form. • The exterior materials were selected for their low maintenance and durability in the harsh maritime environment. • The site was developed as a sustainable meadow, in harmony with the surrounding woodlands. • A simple cross-axial parti organizes the plan on all floors. The upper floor features two interconnecting square rooms, each with a pyramidal ceiling. • The crisp white interiors, accented by hand-hewn beams and rift and quarter-sawn oak flooring and doors, provide an elegant backdrop a collection of antiques and contemporary art.