Nestled on a bluff overlooking the waters of Amagansett, a unique L-shaped residence known as "The Switchblade" represents the successful marriage of challenging site constraints and thoughtful architectural design. The home, belonging to retired lawyer Hilary Evans and her husband, demonstrates how a difficult plot of land can be transformed into a mid-century modern sanctuary that appears to naturally emerge from its surroundings rather than being imposed upon them.

The project's origins trace back to Evans' childhood memories of learning to swim on a nearby Amagansett beach. Decades later, when she and her husband spotted a for sale sign on an adjacent property, they discovered a clearing on a bluff with water views that had previously belonged to a French creative director. The previous owner had obtained town permits for a house and pool but never executed the plans, creating an opportunity that the couple quickly seized despite significant bureaucratic challenges ahead.

Navigating the approval process proved to be a formidable obstacle, requiring nine months just to secure a spot on the calendar for variance hearings. Evans credits their eventual success to demonstrating genuine ties to the community, explaining to the board that she had spent childhood summers in the Springs area, that her family actively supports land-preservation organizations, and that they had no intention of building a speculative property for resale.

The site's physical constraints presented equally significant challenges for the design team. Evans and her husband enlisted architect Steven Harris, who had previously designed their Brooklyn townhouse and built a reputation for tackling complex landscapes, including waterfront properties facing both Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. Harris, working alongside project architects Eliot Lee and Andrea Leung, spent nearly two years developing solutions that worked within the plot's setback requirements and elevation limitations.

The resulting structure, dubbed "The Switchblade" by Harris for its distinctive elongated L-shape, maximizes the available space through clever spatial organization. The upper level functions as the primary wing, housing a sitting room, bedroom, and bathroom that span over the pool area below. The lower level contains two separate bedrooms, each with its own entrance, designed specifically for the couple's grown daughters. This arrangement intentionally omits a traditional guest room, a decision Evans acknowledges as having both advantages and drawbacks.

For the interior design, Evans drew inspiration from mid-century modern aesthetics, particularly referencing the visual style of the film "The Ice Storm." She collaborated with Lucien Rees Roberts' RRP design firm, with firm partner David Kelly and senior associate Regina Cassorla handling the landscape and pool design elements. The interior spaces feature a sunken living room defined by cedar louvered walls, custom sectional seating, and a sculptural fireplace with a distinctive bronze hood.

The home's material palette reflects both durability and aesthetic sophistication throughout its various spaces. The kitchen showcases Blue de Savoie marble countertops from BAS Stone, white oak cabinetry, and a reflective stainless-steel wall housing refrigeration and storage, complemented by leather K4 Koi barstools. The dining area centers around a custom walnut table designed by RRP, paired with vintage 1940s chairs in oak and woven rope by Adrien Audoux and Frida Minet, while artwork by Clifford Ross adorns the walls.

The primary bedroom combines functionality with artistic elements, featuring a custom mahogany dresser topped with a still life by Sidney Laufman and a smaller oil painting by Robert Kulicke, illuminated by a wall-mounted lamp from Christian Liaigre. A cozy corner sitting room on the second story includes custom sectional seating, a Tobi-Ishi coffee table in brushed white oak, and a mid-century 1960s swivel pod chair by Overman.

Architectural details throughout the home prioritize natural light and visual connectivity. The staircase connecting the lower level to the main living area features open risers that allow skylight illumination to filter down, creating dynamic shadow patterns that change throughout the day. Glass windows on the upper level provide unobstructed water views, reinforcing the strong connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.

The landscape design maintains the site's natural character while integrating the built environment seamlessly. RRP preserved existing pitch pines, eastern red cedars, and black oaks while introducing native grasses around the Grigio Olivo pavers surrounding the pool. Outdoor stairs constructed from reclaimed Pennsylvania bluestone with natural faces are dry-set on sand over a gravel base, bordered by beach grass that reinforces the coastal setting.

Senior associate Regina Cassorla emphasizes that the design philosophy centered on making the house appear as though it "quietly emerged from the land rather than being placed upon it." This approach extends to the pool design, which spans the length of the upper level and integrates with the primary wing's sitting room, bedroom, and bathroom spaces. The result is a residence that Harris describes as creating "space outside of itself" rather than resembling "a piece of sushi on a platter," ensuring that occupants spend equal time enjoying both interior and exterior environments.