Norman Jaffe's Bliss House demolished in Southampton

So, the Bliss House, which was this oceanfront gem designed by the modernist architect Norman Jaffe and finished in 1979 in Southampton, New York, has been demolished. Known for its unique "organic modernism," it had a mix of weathered cedar and striking geometric designs with big windows that blended with the dunes. This teardown followed a long legal battle between the owner, Orest Bliss, and preservation groups, including the Southampton Village Board of Architectural Review and Historic Preservation. Although the board denied Bliss’s request to demolish it in 2021, a state judge reversed that decision in 2023. The board's appeal was turned down in 2025. Bliss sold the land to 88 ML Holdings in 2026. Also, another Jaffe house, the Milton Gilbert House in New Jersey, was recently taken down, and Tim Godbold from Hamptons 20 Century Modern pointed out the ongoing fight to save such architectural treasures.