Tucked into a quiet, scrubby stretch of Barnes Landing—where it’s less about the Hamptons buzzy social scene and more about low-key relaxing—131 Windward doesn’t announce itself loudly. There are no gates, no grand arrival sequence, no architectural peacocking. Just a simple, cedar-clad structure that seems perfectly content to stand quietly within its natural surroundings.

Restraint is entirely the point with this house by Bates Masi + Architects, the much-ballyhooed East Hampton–based firm that has built a stellar reputation eschewing excess in favor of precision and always keeping in mind how people will live in and interact with the home. 

That philosophy plays out here across a compact footprint—just shy of 1,350 square feet over two floors, with two bedrooms and two baths. And yet, thanks to soaring ceilings and large window openings arranged in careful orientation to harness natural light, it feels much more expansive than the numbers suggest. Interiors are sparse but not cold: Exposed steel framing is balanced with raw wood paneling accented with sections of vertical slatting. 

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A smooth concrete fireplace anchors the double-height living/dining room, where glass sliders create easy continuity with the outdoor spaces, while stainless-steel cabinetry gives the nearby kitchen a hint of glamour and butcher block countertops keep things functional.

One bedroom, with direct access to the yard, and one bathroom, also with a door to the outside, complete the main floor, while the upper level comprises a lofted gallery overlooking the living and dining room below. To one side is a long built-in desk, while a slatted wood wall slides open to reveal a bedroom and bathroom. Just outside the gallery and the bathroom is a fence-enclosed roof deck.

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With almost two-thirds of an acre, there is plenty of room to accommodate a swimming pool along with additional terrace space. Dense woods on all sides provide separation from neighboring homes, and Barnes Hole Beach on Gardiners Bay—a long stretch of sand and beloved by locals precisely because it’s far from the hubbub of East Hamptons’ Main Beach—is a short stroll away.

In a wealthy region that sometimes confuses scale with significance, 131 Windward offers a quieter argument: that good design doesn’t need to shout to be heard. Now in contract, Rebekah C. Baker of Sotheby’s International Realty is representing the property, which is asking $2.995 million.

Click here for more photos of the East Hampton Home.