The Hamptons, where winter weary New Yorkers gather to escape the city to sunbathe and party in the summer. Thirty-somethings group together to rent cottages while the wealthy and celebrities buy or rent top-dollar beach homes, affording luxury and much more private beach space. While the summer onslaught is legendary, many enjoy year-round residency, enjoying the small town atmosphere for much of the other three seasons of the year. It’s where a helipad awaits on billionaire’s row in Southampton to whisk its commuters to Manhattan in 20 minutes. From luxurious boutiques and restaurants to visiting historical landmarks or just sipping a gin and tonic dockside while contemplating the boats in their berths, there is a part of the Hamptons that is endearing to locals, tourists, and more recently to the international crowd.

Architect Norman Jaffe became a full time resident of Bridgehampton in 1973 and made his mark by designing contemporary houses using natural materials with passive solar capabilities. His popularity took off almost instantly and although a prolific designer producing an average of one design every three weeks, he was eventually only able to choose one out of every ten projects that were presented to him. Jaffe drowned one morning at age 61 while going for a morning swim in the ocean. He was known for listening to his clients input but then going ahead and doing it his own way. One of his original homes has recently been put on the market in Bridgehampton.

The Jaffe design estate of 4,100 square feet of crisp-lined contemporary architecture is nestled on over an acre of grounds on Sam’s Creek with its own boat dock close to the ocean outlet and the beach. The four bedroom, five bath interior is open and airy with soaring ceilings and glass walls with lovely views over the landscape. Interior stone walls and large stone fireplace are in sharp contrast to the clean white walls combining the modern and rustic features for which Jaffe was so well known. All rooms are spacious and filled with natural light including the large kitchen with long center island and marble countertops. Outside are terraces arranged at different levels with swimming pool with waterfall.

Norman Jaffe-designed contemporary with rustic touches in the resort town of Bridgehampton on New York’s Long Island – priced at $8.995 million.

Sources: toptenrealestatedeals.com, hreo.com

Image Credits: Photo courtesy of TopTenRealEstateDeals.com.