This Upside-Down House Inspired By Bird's Nests Is An Architect's Dream: Shelter Island Home Tour

Key Concepts Desai Cha Architecture, Osprey House, Shelter Island, Ponic Bay, Nature Preserve, Osprey Nests (design inspiration), Upside Down House (regional typology), Bird Blind (design theme), Light Footprint, Natural Materials, Northward Orientation (windows), Clear Story Window, Environmental Friendliness, Sense of Place.

Introduction to Desai Cha Architecture and the Osprey House Project Desai Cha Architecture, a New York City-based firm led by partners Kathy Cha and Arjent Desai, specializes in residential, institutional, commercial, and cultural projects. The firm's core philosophy centers on the relationship between communities and collaboration, applicable to scales from a small family of four to a large institution of 200 people. A key focus is on integrating light and nature into the architectural experience, utilizing natural materials, and considering the building's relationship to its environment.

The Osprey House is situated on Shelter Island, specifically on the edge of a nature preserve and facing the Ponic Bay. The client, a local builder residing in Sag Harbor, discovered the property.

Design Inspiration: The Osprey and its Vantage Point During their initial site visit, the architects observed native ospreys nesting on telephone poles and other high-perched areas. These nests provide an "amazing vantage point" for viewing nature. This observation directly inspired the house's design, which aims to offer a similar elevated perspective to its inhabitants, effectively "taking clues from the osprey and their nests."

Architectural Typology: The Upside Down House The design incorporates a regional architectural typology known as the "upside down house." This configuration places the primary living spaces—the living room, dining room, and kitchen—on the second floor, while the sleeping areas are located on the ground floor. This arrangement affords families the opportunity to be "up on a perch" to enjoy broader views, often including water views across the horizon. The ground-level bedrooms, in contrast, offer a private destination with a direct connection to the ground plane.

The Bird Blind Concept and Exterior Aesthetics A significant design feature incorporated into the house is the concept of a "bird blind," structures commonly found in nature preserves. These slatted wood buildings allow observers to view local flora and fauna without disturbance. The architects adopted the quality of a bird blind as a thematic element for the house's exterior.

The wood used on both the exterior and interior features a "grayed out, almost driftwood color," which is part of the natural material palette of the area. The exterior employs a slat board and batten system, visually resembling a bird blind. This design choice helps to "disguise the house within nature" and creates an impression that the house is "touching nature very lightly," fostering a subtle and harmonious presence within its natural surroundings.

Sustainable Design and Materiality The Osprey House was designed with a strong emphasis on sustainability and minimizing environmental impact:

• Light Footprint: The house maintains a "very tight foundation footprint," ensuring it does not occupy a large amount of ground space and thus has a "very light footprint on the ground."
• Natural Materials: The design extensively utilizes natural materials, including different kinds of wood and exposed wood beams. These features help to "ground the house back to the natural elements."

Innovative Orientation and Light Management Departing from conventional architectural practice that often prioritizes south-facing windows for direct light, the Osprey House features most of its windows facing northward. This strategic orientation serves to "protect the insides from intense glare and heat gain," contributing to a more comfortable and energy-efficient interior climate.

To still capture a sense of southern light and warmth, a "clear story window" runs along the top edge of the living room. This window brings in "just a hint of light, warmth and glow coming in from the southern sun." This combination of northern orientation and a high southern window creates a house that is "actually more environmentally friendly," reducing the need for extensive heating and cooling.

The orientation also provides "amazing views of the nature preserve." In the evening, the setting sun naturally illuminates the distant landscape, eliminating the need to draw blinds and allowing continuous appreciation of the surroundings as the sun goes down.

Design Philosophy: Sense of Place A fundamental theme driving all projects by Desai Cha Architecture, including the Osprey House, is the "sense of place." The firm believes each project should be an "individual experience that's very much grounded to its context and its sight." This philosophy ensures that the architecture is deeply connected to its specific location and environment.

Conclusion: A Harmonious and Contextual Design The Osprey House stands as a testament to Desai Cha Architecture's commitment to integrating architecture with nature and community. By drawing inspiration from local wildlife (ospreys), adopting regional typologies (upside down house), and employing sustainable design principles (bird blind aesthetic, light footprint, innovative orientation, natural materials), the project achieves a harmonious balance. It offers inhabitants an elevated, nature-immersed living experience while minimizing environmental impact and deeply respecting its unique Shelter Island context. The design prioritizes natural light, expansive views, and a subtle presence within the landscape, creating a dwelling that is both highly functional and profoundly connected to its surroundings.