The Atlantic coast of Long Island presents a different set of demands from the Mediterranean landscapes it evokes: hurricane-force winds, salt spray that freezes in winter, and soil conditions that shift between sand and clay. Bates Masi Architects, known for their sensitive coastal projects, designed a residence that channels Amalfi Coast vernacular through the material language of the Northeastern seaboard.
Bianco Carrara was specified for the main interior floors and staircases. Unlike the higher-grade Statuario, Carrara's softer veining and slightly warmer grey undertones were preferred for a coastal home where the stone would be part of daily family life rather than a formal showpiece. We supplied a honed finish to reduce glare and provide a surface that would age gracefully with sand, salt, and children's bare feet.
Pietra di Vicenza, a fossiliferous limestone from the Berici Hills in Veneto, was chosen for the exterior loggia and pool terrace. This stone is notable for containing fossil fragments — nummulites, mollusks, and coral remnants — that date to the Eocene epoch, approximately 50 million years ago, when the area was a warm tropical sea. The fossils, visible in cross-section, give the stone a narrative quality that interested the architects.
Basaltina, a volcanic stone from the Lazio region near Rome, was used for the outdoor kitchen, fireplace surrounds, and garden retaining walls. This compact basalt, formed by rapid cooling of lava flows during the Pliocene, is one of the most durable natural stones available. Its dark charcoal color provides visual grounding for the pale limestone and marble elements.
The residence has weathered two Atlantic storm seasons without stone degradation. The Pietra di Vicenza has developed a subtle golden patina where exposed to direct sunlight, while remaining cool to the touch in the loggia's shaded areas. The architects have noted that the fossil content has become a conversation feature — guests finding prehistoric shells visible in the terrace stones.
We wanted materials that could tell a story across geological and human time scales simultaneously.
— Bates Masi Architects