Located along the marshy shores of Shelter Island’s Mashomack Preserve, the Osprey House was designed by Desai Chia Architects for client Joe Quinn, a local builder from Sag Harbor. Impressed by the studio’s design methodology and attention to detail, Quinn commissioned them to create a home that would nurture his family’s love for nature-centric activities such as beach walks and kayaking.

The home draws inspiration from ospreys, the fish-eating birds of prey found throughout this nature preserve. With these species building their distinctive nests on treetops, telephone poles, and nautical piers, the studio took cues from their adaptability when selecting materials, layout, and coastal orientation.

The result is a spacious home whose upper floor houses the gathering spaces rather than bedrooms. This reversal of traditional residential layout recreates the osprey’s elevated perches, offering residents sweeping views of the surrounding marshlands. The structure is clad in vertical gray siding that camouflages it against the tree trunks. Light charring of the wooden façades using the Japanese technique of Shou Sugi Ban creates a bug- and fire-resistant exterior well-suited to these fragile surroundings.

Large windows provide light and views from the north, while clerestory windows bathe the interiors in natural light throughout the day. “Along the coast, the home’s nautical forms project toward the water like a ship’s bow, providing covered outdoor gathering spaces on both the first and second floors,” Desai Chia Architects explain. A terrace anchors the home to its site, offering a scenic descent from the upper floor via a slender outdoor staircase.

Photography © Jake Balston / Paul Warchol