New York-based Desai Chia Architecture has completed a striking residential project that blends seamlessly with its natural surroundings on Shelter Island, using charred wood and strategic design to create what they call a "camouflaging effect." The Osprey House, located between the North and South Forks of Long Island and accessible only by ferry, was designed to enable its residents to observe wildlife while minimizing visual disruption to the coastal environment.
Nestled within a grove of trees overlooking Gardiners Bay, the 3,700-square-foot home sits on the edge of the Mashomack Preserve and is reached via a winding dirt road. The project was commissioned by local builder Joe Quinn, who had previously collaborated with the architects and wanted to create a family residence that would foster his family's love for beach walks, kayaking, and living immersed in nature.
The design team drew inspiration from the native osprey birds that are abundant throughout the area, with their nests visible on trees, piers, and telephone poles. "Their marine nature, adaptability and high nesting places inspired the home's materiality, organization and relationship with the coast," the architects explained. This influence is evident in the building's two-story structure with a rectangular plan featuring one slanted side, creating a dynamic form that responds to its coastal setting.
The home's exterior showcases vertical cypress siding treated with the traditional Japanese Shou Sugi Ban charring technique, resulting in a weathered appearance similar to driftwood found on nearby beaches. This material choice was deliberately inspired by "bird blind" observation towers within the preserve, which are designed to blend invisibly with their surroundings. The architects noted that "the camouflaging effect minimizes visual disruptions for neighbors on the coast and encourages wildlife to occupy the lot, while allowing occupants to inconspicuously observe nature from a perch embedded in the landscape."
Taking cues from nautical forms, the house extends toward the water in a manner reminiscent of a ship's bow. The angled roof forms were carefully designed based on detailed sunlight analysis, ensuring optimal natural lighting throughout the day. Tall beach grass surrounding the property provides additional privacy while maintaining the home's integration with the natural landscape.
The interior layout follows the local tradition of "upside-down" houses, which place primary social spaces on the upper level. This elevated positioning offers expansive views of the surrounding marshland ecosystem and captures gentle northern and eastern light. The upper floor contains an open-concept space for cooking, dining, and living that flows seamlessly onto a covered terrace, along with a media room and the primary bedroom suite.
The ground level houses three additional bedrooms, a family room, and another covered terrace, complemented by an entry vestibule and carport. Throughout the interior, the same charred cypress used on the exterior adds warmth and texture, while white oak was selected for flooring, a chunky staircase, and ceiling panel veneers, creating an earthy and restrained material palette.
Natural lighting was a key consideration in the design, with a clerestory running along the roof ridge bringing in southern light, while expansive glazing on the north facade ensures soft, even illumination throughout the day. The thoughtful integration of these elements creates an airy, fluid interior that maintains a strong connection to the surrounding natural environment.
Desai Chia Architecture has previously completed several notable residential projects, including a farm-inspired home in Upstate New York featuring crisp silhouettes, and a multi-structure dwelling in Connecticut with courtyards designed for displaying artwork. The Osprey House represents another successful example of their approach to creating architecture that responds sensitively to its environment while meeting the specific needs of its inhabitants.
