Small Footprint, Big Potential

Tucker views prefabricated construction – placing assembled modules atop building frames – as cost-efficient, eco-friendly, and allowing for versatility in design. In the case of the Long Island home, a steel frame was used at the request of the homeowners, who were concerned about the property being near a potential flood zone. The house was lifted, with two ready-made sections set onto the sturdy steel frame and clad in corrugated aluminum siding.

The end result: A 1,650-square-foot prefab beach bungalow offering elevated, panoramic views of the Great Peconic Bay, Long Island Sound, and the surrounding vineyards, orchards, and farms that characterize the 30-mile-long peninsula.

The Brooklyn-based family that owns the house bought it for a weekend retreat and a seasonal home for their Florida-based grandparents. So, Tucker designed the house with communal spaces in mind – the home is centered around a courtyard and sprawling deck that boast seemingly boundless bay views. Series 600 Sliding Glass Doors create a seamless transition from the interior to the outdoors.

“This home has direct access to the water with unobstructed views across the bay. The design inherently needed to maximize window openings to take advantage of these views,” Tucker says. “It was also important to use natural daylight and natural ventilation throughout the home while connecting the interior spaces to the various exterior spaces that are features of the home.”

Because the project revolves entirely around the indoor-outdoor lifestyle, Tucker says, customization options were imperative. “In our experience designing homes, we are often limited by other window manufacturers’ size constraints that do not satisfy the clients’ expectations,” he says. “Western Window Systems’ capabilities give us freedom to connect large spaces to the outdoors in striking and unexpected ways.”