Header: Jody Kivort
Palette Architecture presents the Shift House, a new 1,600-square-foot home built for a family of four. It was constructed using prefabricated, modular components made in a factory and assembled on-site. The design uses prefabrication to save on budget and time without sacrificing the overall vision. The house is designed to fit in with its natural surroundings and support the family’s needs.
The inception of the modular home in the nature
After the pandemic, many New Yorkers sought homes that were more connected to nature. A past client asked the firm to design a second home away from their Brooklyn townhouse, and they chose a quiet, tree-lined area in East Hampton as the location. The house was intended to be simple in size and cost but ready for use as soon as possible.
At the same time, the architects were dealing with contractor shortages and long wait times on other projects. They suggested prefabrication to the client to lower construction costs, speed up the timeline, and provide more budget and schedule predictability. The design process worked within the limits of prefabrication while encouraging the fabricator to expand their offerings to meet the architects’ vision.
Connecting the pieces into a home
Shift House consists of three modules and five panels. The modules comprise the two-bedroom wings and the central kitchen, living room, and dining room. The panels added extra height to the living module. Once all the parts were made, the house was assembled in one day, including MEP systems. Floor finishes, exterior cladding and some custom woodwork were added afterward.
The team focused on addressing the usual challenges of modular construction. These include space limitations due to transportation constraints and traditional module heights that limit open, grand areas. The design team used panels to extend the height of the living module, overcoming these challenges. Several designs were tested to balance space quality with what was feasible. The final design featured two bedroom wings connected to a central, tall living area.
A retreat in nature
The L-shaped house is placed at one end of a grassy lawn at the back of the property, with the other boundaries marked by a minimalist swimming pool and rows of trees. An elevated deck connects the interior to the outside. The rear of the property has lush landscaping, contrasting with the front, which features gravel and drought-tolerant plants. The private, enclosed lawn offers a secluded space, allowing the family to retreat into nature.
Inside, the design emphasizes large windows that offer views of the backyard. The living space has windows on two sides, providing a clear view of the landscaped rear. The bedrooms and bathrooms also overlook a courtyard as a scenic backdrop.
The millwork was carefully chosen to add character to the different spaces and help tie the modular components together. Natural textures were selected for the cabinetry to give each piece a unique look.
Project info
Project Name: Shift House
Location: The Springs, East Hampton, NY
Architecture Firm: Palette Architecture
Project Completed: June 2024
Project Designers: Daniel Lin, Jeremy Wooldridge, Fan Lu
Interior Architecture: Palette Architecture
Landscape Architect: Whitney’s Landscaping
Contractors: Cedar Knolls Homes
Photographer credits: Jody Kivort
Source: v2com-newswire
