Sag Harbor Bay is a thoughtfully reimagined waterfront landscape that balances contemporary living with the natural beauty of the East End. The design integrates native plantings, carefully crafted outdoor spaces, and resilient shoreline strategies to strengthen the connection between the home and the bay while enhancing ecological performance. Recognized with the 2025 Architizer A+ Jury Award in the Private Garden category, the project reflects LaGuardia Design Group's commitment to creating landscapes that are both enduring and environmentally responsive.

Given the sensitivity of this heavily wooded, sloping waterfront site, the planning required extra thought and analysis. The buildings, walkways, terraces, and pool were all planned to fit into the existing topography, preserving the surrounding Oak and Cedar Forest. All of the stone is a single variety of granite, hand-selected from a local New York quarry and digitally surveyed and modeled to inform precise placement - creating a cohesive, carved, and sculptural landscape. An almost entirely native plant palette weaves between the structures and quietly blends the landscape into the surrounding woodland. A key component of the project was the careful restoration of the bluff, ensuring the preservation and enhancement of its ecological health, allowing the site to thrive both aesthetically and environmentally. 

Special factors

This project excels in its innovative and environmentally sensitive approach to landscape design. One of the standout features is the use of locally sourced, handpicked stone from a New York quarry. 3D scanning technology was used to create an accurate model of each stone, ensuring their optimal placement. This allowed the design team to precisely plan the positioning of boulders, landscape walls, and paving elements in alignment with the site's topography. The technology not only ensured a perfect fit for the stones within the landscape but also minimized disruption to the existing terrain, achieving a harmonious balance between the built elements and the natural environment. 

The buildings, walkways, terraces, and pool were carefully positioned to follow the natural contours of the land, allowing them to integrate seamlessly into the landscape. The resulting layout maintains the integrity of the surrounding Oak and Cedar Forest, with minimal disturbance to the slope. The use of wood boardwalks, designed to bridge the different terraces, further minimizes ground disturbance and enhances the connection between the various outdoor spaces. 

The restoration of the bluff was another critical aspect of the project, requiring careful planning and execution. Efforts to reestablish and restore the bluff included reinforcing the base with reclaimed stone from the site and stabilizing the bluff surface with a network of coir logs interplanted with native beach grass. These efforts not only enhance the site's aesthetic value but also improve its ecological health, creating a sustainable and resilient landscape that will thrive for years to come.