Project Name: Mohegan Trail Residence

Location: New Shoreham, United States

Design Team: Bates Masi + Architects

Total Floor Area: 2,400 ft² (223 m²)

Completion: 2023

Photography: Bates Masi + Architects

Feature:

Project - Mohegan Trail Residence, designed by Bates Masi + Architects, stands as an exemplary demonstration of transforming logistical constraints into architectural innovation on Block Island off the Northeast coast of the United States. This 2,400-square-foot coastal residence is strategically positioned on a remote island with no cargo boat access, where all equipment and materials must arrive via passenger ferry under strict size and weight restrictions, making these extreme building conditions the fundamental driver of the design.

The project's most compelling design achievement lies in its revolutionary exposed structural system concept. The architects employed densely spaced dimensional lumber, using only short-span 2x8s and 2x6s without trusses or steel members, creating a hand-assemblable framework system. This raw and tactile structural expression establishes an honest architectural language that directly responds to the building's pragmatic origins while becoming the residence's primary aesthetic characteristic.

The architectural narrative unfolds through sophisticated saltbox form, utilizing a 45-foot-square footprint dictated by local codes. This traditional form rooted in Northeastern vernacular architecture gains new life in contemporary context. Its extended roof slopes to ground level on the northeast elevation, forming a weather-resistant barrier against violent coastal storms, demonstrating intelligent response to extreme climatic conditions.

The material expression embodies profound dialogue with place and climate. Cedar shake cladding provides moisture and insect resistance, while tongue-and-groove deck boards replace traditional plywood sheathing to prevent delamination. Six inches of rigid insulation installed outside the frame creates continuous thermal protection while keeping interior structural members visible. Copper flashing wraps the building's base to protect the most vulnerable facade portions, and unglazed clay tiles for flooring reference the island's natural geological deposits.

Building systems similarly embrace principles of simplicity. Manual shades, line-voltage lighting with local controls, no built-in audio-visual systems, and a wood-burning stove eliminate complex mechanical dependencies. Millwork is equally minimal, using solid wood to match exposed framing, typically consisting only of robust open shelving.

Mohegan Trail Residence is conceived as an architectural gesture that pays homage to site, climate, and fundamental construction principles, showcasing the maturity and innovation of contemporary American coastal architecture when addressing extreme constraint conditions. By returning to core design principles, vernacular forms, and proven materials, the project minimizes maintenance requirements while maximizing inhabitants' connection to Block Island's rugged natural beauty.

Design Team - Bates Masi + Architects, established over six decades ago, has distinguished itself as an exceptional full-service architectural practice with dual anchors in New York City and Long Island's East End. The firm is currently led by principals Paul Masi and Harry Bates, operating from purpose-designed offices in East Hampton and Manhattan.

Under the creative direction of Harry Bates and Paul Masi, Bates Masi + Architects pursues a design methodology grounded in extensive research across related architectural fields, materials, craft, and environment, creating unique solutions for clients. The firm's focus is neither project scale nor type, but rather opportunities to enrich lives and enhance environments.

Harry Bates, after seventeen years of private practice in Manhattan and a decade with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, relocated the firm to Southampton on Long Island's East End in 1980, bringing rigorous technical expertise. Paul Masi joined in 1998 following tenure at Richard Meier & Partners, contributing refined modernist sensibilities honed through graduate studies at Harvard's Graduate School of Design.

The firm's design philosophy centers on "attention to all elements of design," a principle manifested in projects characterized by contextual sensitivity, material innovation, and craft excellence. Bates Masi + Architects' portfolio encompasses urban and suburban residences, schools, offices, hotels, restaurants, retail, and furniture design across the United States, Central America, and the Caribbean.

The practice understands architecture as an expanded discipline, with each project rooted in thorough investigation of site, climate, and client needs. Since 2003, the firm has garnered over 250 design awards, including state and national AIA honors, multiple Wood Design & Building citations, and recognition from professional publications including Architectural Record, Interior Design, and Residential Architect. In 2013, Bates Masi was inducted into the Interior Design Hall of Fame, with Harry Bates honored as Hamptons Cottages & Gardens Innovator of the Year in 2018. Monographs Bespoke Home and Architecture of Place document the firm's sustained commitment to site-responsive, craft-driven design excellence, showcasing innovative practice in contemporary American architecture within coastal environments.