With the '00s coming to an end in mere weeks, Curbed Hamptons thought it was time to take a look back at the decade that was. To that end, we polled a broad array of East End architects, architecture critics, real estate brokers and builders to determine the best homes built in the Hamptons in the past 10 years. Big, small, expensive, cheap, it didn't matter—as long as the house made an impact on the East End's landscape, it qualified. Then we tallied the results, argued about the order, and cast this list, which we're calling Top of the Aughts. Did we miss a favorite of yours? Let us know in the comments. But meantime, say hello to the Top 10 Hamptons Houses of the decade.
10) House: 57 Startop, Montauk
Architect: Michael Mensch Design
Year Completed: 2009
The Skinny: Completed in June, 57 Startop was profiled on this site for its roster of views (i.e. the Atlantic Ocean, Montauk Lake and Long Island Sound), along with its developer's digital prowess. But frankly, the house is gorgeous, and represents a kind of modern design not often seen in at 'The End'.
"Once I discovered the property, the challenge was to mate this perfect setting with the right home. Stunning views from a steeply inclined property meant modern." - Tom DiMatteo, Owner/Developer on his blog, 57 Startop
9) House: Sagaponac House, Wainscott
Architect: Tsao & McKown Architects
Year Completed: 2007
The Skinny: A nominated selection, this addition to the Coco Brown/Richard Meier project Houses at Sagaponac is a study in topography, as the house's design changed a flat landscape into something much more interesting. At only 4,500 square feet, the home isn't on a grand scale, but offers a unique vista and a true architect's sensibility.
"[Participating in the Houses at Sagaponac] gave the architects free reign, the freedom of not working with a client." - Leanne Rosso, Tsao & McKown
8) House: The Sandcastle, Bridgehampton
Architect: McDonough & Conroy Architects
Year Completed: 2009
The Skinny: Yes, it has a skate park, but Joe Farrell's Sandcastle personifies the classic Hamptons estate in plenty of other ways, drawing on traditional styles and that grand foyer to make a splash on the East End landscape. Listed at $59.5 million, it ruled the world of real estate last summer, reminding many of the heyday of Hamptons excess and the significance of such an intriguing estate.
7) House: Rennert Estate, Sagaponack
Architect: Mark Ferguson
Year Completed: 2003
The Skinny: In the late '90s, much of the East End was in an uproar over Ira Rennert's proposed palace off Daniel's Lane. Books were written, rumors were spread, and there were riots in the streets (not really). But all 43,000 square feet were finished and the home is now the biggest in the U.S. In the end, someone had to design this thing, and that alone is no small feat.
"...Ridiculously nice. I know that some think that it is too big, but I have toured the entire grounds, and it is not tacky and extremely, extremely well built." - David Rattiner, Dan's Papers
6) House: Bay Residence, Amagansett
Architect: Stelle Architects
Year Completed: 2006
The Skinny: A nominated architect, Fred Stelle's Gardiner's Bay bachelor pad is a perfectly balanced beach house. More focused on what's outside than what's in, the 90-foot glass box is truly an ode to its five acre surroundings. Saying it gets good natural light doesn't even begin to tell the whole story.
5) House: Residence, East Hampton
Architect: Robert A.M. Stern Architects
Year Completed: 2004
The Skinny: A transplanted French château, this starchitect-designed house came about when Francophile homeowners decided that they were willing to knock their former home to the ground. Stern has that effect, and the result was spectacular. In 2005, Architectural Digest went inside the gates to reveal an interior as chic as the façade.
4) House: Sagaponac House, Sagaponack
Architect: Shirgeru Ban Architects
Year Completed: 2006
The Skinny: Though we've had a laugh at the locusts in the living room, in all seriousness, Ban's contribution to the Houses at Sagaponac is a simple and elegant wonder. With its design based in history, the very forward-looking structure is a significant contribution to this East End architecture collective.
"The appeal of this house comes from its elegantly simple concept to utilize standardized, prefabricated cabinetry as the structural system of the house. It's an idea that delivers on early modernism's promise of decreasing construction cost and time while increasing spatial flexibility and client utility." - Paul Masi, Architect
3) House: Northwest Peach Farm, East Hampton
Architect: Bates Masi + Architects
Year Completed: 2008
The Skinny: Overlooking a former peach orchard, this award winning 10 acre estate combines a modern aesthetic with a practical view on life. An ultra-efficient kitchen makes way for multi-use furniture and endless dining areas. Though the copper siding and roof will eventually turn green, the home is built to stand the test of time.
2) House: Stone Houses, East Hampton
Architect: Leroy Street Studio
Year Completed: 2005
The Skinny: Set on 12 acres on Further Lane, this award winning property was built for a mother and daughter who requested homes made of 'local granite' with expansive views. They got their wish with the Stone Houses, which offer a public gallery space, water feature walkways and lots and lots of windows. ZenHampton at its absolute best.
"A careful hand is evident in the restrained material palette, simple detailing and massing of this project. An expansive house is broken down into intimate experiences, tied together by common materials." - Paul Masi, Architect
1) House: Southampton Home, Southampton
Architect: Alexander Gorlin Architects
Year Completed: 2009
The Skinny: Nominated by a reader, we wholeheartedly concur that Gorlin's upside-down waterfront estate is a stunner. Sitting between the ocean and the bay, the 12,00 square footer is a beach house in every sense of the word. Recently finished, the home made waves in Architectural Digest's October Issue, and now gives hope to fans that modern design has a place in the Hamptons' architectural future.
Honorable Mention: This list would not be complete without a nod to renowned architect Francis Fleetwood, most importantly for his 1999 Wainscott estate, Burnt Point. A media darling, it was huge, it was secretive, and it was fabulous. But it wasn't built in the aughts.
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