Hamptons Houses
Modernist Escapes: Julian and Barbara Neski
Julian and Barbara Neski were prolific designers and proponents of the ideal weekend “escape” house. They designed numerous homes, the majority of which can be found on eastern Long Island. These are spare structures with clean, bold lines, perfectly proportioned, and solidly geometric. Their Gorman house, which Maris photographed in 1969, was deceptively simple from the outside, yet open and light-filled from the inside, with interior courtyards and outdoor areas for relaxing. Maris’ quiet image reflects the sense of vacation tranquility that is the essence of this house. Maris captures an interesting perspective on the Simon House, where two slim trees flank the central cylindrical column, framing it and creating a visually arresting image while reinforcing the sense that this abstract form is somehow a part of the natural surroundings. His striking and bold image of the Kaplan House, the largest of these three, with its solid structure captures the angles and its soaring dimensions of this structure, at once the quintessential beach house and yet something entirely new. Said the Neski's, “All of our work share certain conceptual precepts: clarity of structure and form, a plan that reflects the realities of the site and the clients' needs; the use of materials that are connected to local traditions and a visual presence that does not depend on empty gestures.”
Gorman House
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Gorman House
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Simon House
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Kaplan House
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