Impermanence
Art of letting go
Shelter Island Residence
RESIDENTIAL
SHELTER ISLAND, NEW YORK, USA
PROJECT DESIGNERS: JAMES MOHN AND AYUMI DATE
TECHNICAL COORDINATOR: PETER CHAN
MODEL MAKER: PETER CHAN
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The Shelter Island Residence for me represents the act of honoring boundaries and finding harmony in a partnership. I learned to establish recognition and respect of an individual’s contribution. But as that individual, I learned how to know when some battles are not worth fighting. The design process is fragile in nature–concept to design development to realization. There are vulnerabilities in believing a project is one’s personal achievement. Nothing is permanent.
This 2,600 sq ft single family home was perfectly imperfect. Its authentic loveliness was revealed in surprising, unexpected inconsistent glimpses. We sourced from local and sustainable materials, cedar paneling and waxed mahogany and cork floors.
Natural light is harder to control and anticipate. This is why the work of architect Louis Kahn is so masterful. In this project, we mapped the schedule of light and adjusted design to capture it fully.
Doing what’s best for the project and what’s best for the team is a delicate, ever-shifting balance. It is a balance of the selfish (ego) and selfless (humility). It is elusive and temporary. It teaches us to appreciate the moments and glimpses of commonality and agreement. We strive to find the right balance: synchronicity, simultaneity, seamlessness, symbiosis, the secret sauce of an effective, successful design team.
Recognizing roles and growing pains in a start-up design studio, giving in to the process and releasing egos.
