Located in Bridgehampton, New York, the Six Square House is composed of six 24-by-24-foot modules, each defined by a simple gabled form and an inverted V-shaped roof. The modular composition creates a seamless transition between the roof and exterior walls, allowing the home’s restrained material palette to emphasize its distinctive geometry from every angle. Inside, the roof forms establish six unique living spaces across the 3,500-square-foot residence, which includes two bedrooms, three bathrooms, open living areas, a garage, and outdoor spaces centered around a courtyard, meadow, and pool house.
The exterior is clad entirely in IKIGAI shou sugi ban acetylated modified wood, creating a continuous architectural expression across both the walls and roof while reinforcing the home’s clean, monolithic appearance.
April 2021 Issue of Wallpaper* Magazine
Featured in designboom June 2021
To support the material selection process, RESAWN developed an on-site mockup that allowed the architect and owner to evaluate multiple solid wood cladding options under actual site conditions. Reviewing the materials at full scale and in natural light provided confidence in the final selection before fabrication and installation.
With the mockup validating the design intent, the team selected IKIGAI, which combines the traditional Japanese charring technique with Accoya’s® patented acetylation process. Suitable for both wall and roof applications, IKIGAI delivers exceptional dimensional stability, durability, and resistance to the elements while showcasing the rich texture and depth characteristic of charred wood.
Finished with a dark gray topcoat, IKIGAI is designed to weather gracefully over time while maintaining the visual character of the charred finish. Accoya® itself requires no refinishing to maintain its long-term performance; however, the topcoat can be reapplied if preserving the original day-one appearance is desired.
The innovative design of the Six Square House required close collaboration throughout both the specification and construction phases, particularly as the project incorporated wood as both a wall cladding and roofing material.
Throughout construction, RESAWN’s technical team supplied installation guidance and detailed documentation for both the wall cladding and roof applications. This included recommendations for rainscreen assemblies, ventilation strategies, attachment methods, and detailing to support long-term performance.
On-site technical support and troubleshooting were also provided during installation, helping the contractor address field conditions and ensuring the roof and wall assemblies were installed in accordance with best practices.
Working closely with the project team, RESAWN helped develop a comprehensive rainscreen approach for both the vertical cladding and the wood-clad roof, supporting drainage, ventilation, and durability while preserving the clean, uninterrupted architectural expression of the home.
More than three years after installation, the RESAWN IKIGAI cladding and roofing continue to demonstrate exceptional performance. Despite exposure to the coastal climate and seasonal weather conditions of Long Island, the material has maintained its visual character and dimensional stability, reinforcing its suitability for demanding exterior applications.
Young Projects is a widely published architecture and design firm based in New York City. Their work emphasizes modern design techniques with a commitment to sustainability and materiality.
In 2023, the residence became “The Bridge,” a temporary exhibition by traveling design gallery VERSO Works. Natural light, an open floor plan, and continuous wood-clad surfaces framed works by 36 designers and artists worldwide. Coverage in Designboom, Hypebeast, and IFDM brought wider attention to the project.
