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When we talk about a house in the Hamptons we immediately visualize a large "shingle style" house on the ocean beach.

In fact, these houses, built at the turn of the century between the 1890s and the early 1900s have become the defining form of architecture for houses in the Hamptons in this century as well. The so called "turn of the century shingle style" house set the stage for the creation of vacation architecture that evolved over the course of a century and changed the look of our towns forever.

In a fusion of form and function these houses emerged as the Hamptons turned into a resort second home town easily accessible by train and automobile. In short, you had great ocean beaches, sea breezes, and rolling countryside just a few hours away making it easy to escape the sweltering heat of the city.

These low maintenance houses, designed for casual living, nudged their way into our rural fishing and farming villages. Until the turn of the century our landscape was dominated by early American Capes, built by the first settlers, interspersed with Colonials, Victorians, and utilitarian farm houses that were built in our sparsely populated towns from Westhampton Beach to Montauk. Our population consisted of local people who worked all the time and rarely went anywhere. Enter the new concept of the second home and summer people who created a colony and a seasonal resort economy that added another dimension to our rural agrarian towns inhabited by farmers and fisherman.

The Hamptons emerged. That vague, but clearly definable mix of city folk and country people who live side by side in rural splendor they all treasure and want to preserve as their hallowed place.

At first these houses were built on the Dunes along the Ocean. They were also built on large parcels close to the Villages of East Hampton and Southampton in what were the first subdivisions created by the Summer Colony, an elite group of affluent New Yorkers who began to summer in the Hamptons.

These vacation homes have many features of contemporary architecture that affected subsequent home design in the Hamptons. They were modern houses on the cutting edge of design for their day. These houses gave rise to open floor plans that emphasize traffic flow from room to room since they were built for socializing and relaxation. The houses also featured large doors and windows that opened onto covered porches, verandas and patios making the outdoors easily accessible. These large windows and doors also provided breezes in a pre-air conditioned era. In addition, it erased the line between the inside and outside of the house. It reflected easy living and entertaining.

The open floor plan made it possible to have drinks on the veranda, gather in the living room and then proceed to the dining room when dinner was served, fashionably late at 8pm.

These houses also had large picture windows in the dining room and living room. These windows were designed to exploit the seaside views of the ocean. The houses had upper decks, and small porches incorporated into the design in a very subtle way so they mesh with house and are barely noticeable. Little porches and balconies provided vantage points and fresh air especially in ocean front homes.

Homes were gracious and spacious, but not imposing. They were large enough to accommodate extended family, friends, and household staff but they were not overwhelming. Above all, they reflected an informality not found in the mansions on Upper Fifth Avenue. They were summer houses intended for fun and entertaining.

Typically each home would have a large center hallway, dominated by a foyer with a grand staircase and a high ceiling. Often a big window at the landing halfway up the imposing staircase would be included to let in the light. One would find two front parlors or living rooms on either side of this hallway. One of these rooms was usually used as a "den" or study, and was the precursor of the home office. A large dining room adjoined the kitchen on one side and a spacious living room on the other. The living room and dining room usually faced the ocean or garden and opened onto a porch or veranda. As you can see, it was all designed for entertaining and relaxation.

Most homes were designed to take advantage of views and breezes and they had numerous fireplaces to ward off the evening chill. There were also Billiard rooms on the main floor for rainy days.

The bedrooms are another defining feature of these houses. Most of these vacation homes had large master suites, guest suites, children's wings and staff accommodations. The upstairs master suite usually consisted of a large sitting room where the occupants could relax privately, a bedroom, his and hers dressing rooms and bathrooms. Guests suites were similarly appointed on the other side of the hallway for privacy. The children's rooms were grouped together. Staff quarters were off to one side of the wing or up on the third floor.

In addition to the grand stairway, these houses all had service staircases leading from the kitchen to the upper floors to insure the smooth running of the household.

Large sitting areas at the top of the grand staircases in many of these homes provided a place to take in the views. Some had window benches beneath the large window so you had a second story view of the ocean or garden. There were also upstairs porches and balconies in many of these houses, some adjoining the master suites which could be used as sleeping porches ideal for sleeping in hot weather or for afternoon naps.

Clearly, these were vacation homes for the wealthy. It is easy to see how these basic design elements have transferred to the houses built in subsequent years. Many of these features dominate new construction today in the luxury second home market.

The turn of the century shingle style house also influenced the contemporary beach houses that appeared mid-century. That's when we saw the first boxy barn style beach houses composed of rough hewn wood and glass. These houses took causal vacation living to another level

They were sparse and open and clearly built to maximize views and give you the feeling that you were virtually living outdoors. These houses also defined the Hamptons in another way. At first, they shocked us and fought with the landscape. Now they seem like part of the landscape and have become a way of life.

The concept of vacation living defined by the early shingle style homes is also reflected in renovations undertaken in houses of all sorts. Porches, decks and patios are added to 1960's ranches to give them a new life and a Hamptons look. Large widows and patio doors replace walls and give an old house a new life and a new look. Ceilings are raised to expose beams in vintage Colonials so the old house gets a new lease on life but retains all of its original charm.

Likewise, old farmhouses are renovated and redefined as walls come down, and rooms are reconfigured to create a more open floor plan again without destroying the integrity or spirit of the house.

Let's not forget the obvious make over, residing your house. It's one of the most common renovation projects out here. Cedar shingles instantly say Hamptons, and transform your house in the Hamptons into a "Hamptons style house."

It's the Hamptons, and we shingle everything out here.

All photos by Jeff Heatley courtesy of Stanley Dalene Construction

Andrea Aurichio is an Associate Broker at Lewis and Nickles Real Estate in Cutchogue, New York. She was a reporter and feature writer for The New York Times and other publications for many years. In addition, she has been the owner/operator of a retail home furnishing and interior design business. You can reach her at AndreaAurichio@optonline.net.