Simultaneously relaxed and elegant, this 7,500-square-foot modern home—along with a 40-foot heated swimming pool, a spa, and a pool house—is one of a very few residences that today occupy the prestigious Fordune Estate, founded by a scion of American icon Henry Ford.
For more than a century, Southampton has drawn prominent members of society as well as distinguished dynasties—one of the most notable being the family of Henry Ford II, grandson to the magnate and pioneer of the American automotive industry. Known familiarly as Hank the Deuce, Ford II established his family’s 250-acre oceanfront compound—today widely known as the Fordune Estate—in 1960, encompassing Channel Pond and other smaller inlets near Mecox Bay and the dunes and sandy shoreline of Flying Point Beach.
Southampton, New York| Harald Grant, Sotheby’s International Realty – Southampton Brokerage
Simultaneously relaxed and elegant, this distinctive 7,500-square-foot modern home—joined by a 40-foot heated gunite pool, a spa, and a pool house—is one of a very few residences that today occupy the prestigious compound, ideally sited on 3.9 acres of the original 250. Characterized by generous scale, minimalist modern hues, an airy openness, and water views in nearly every direction, it is a serene, sophisticated oasis in a setting that is both powerful and peaceful, inextricably linked with its coveted surroundings.
A double-height foyer with a gracefully curving staircase introduces the stylish, light-flooded interiors, flowing to a great room with a marble-wrapped fireplace and three sets of French doors giving way to a full-length covered terrace. The adjoining family room is warmed by its own fireplace and also enjoys direct access to the outdoors. A formal dining room is steps from a generous, welcoming chef’s kitchen and breakfast area featuring stainless-steel appliances and deep blue-gray hues and hardwood floors that create an air of coziness and comfort.
A guest suite on the main level opens through French doors to the pool terrace. The remaining private quarters are secluded on the upper level—among them a primary suite that offers a sitting area with a fireplace, dual walk-in closets, and two bright baths, one boasting a soaking tub, a spacious marble-and-glass shower, and French doors to a deck with a water vista. In addition to the three additional guest suites, a highly versatile loft above the three-car garage includes a central fireplace, a living area, and space for at least two beds—all facing the water and reveling in the picturesque view.
As is perennially true in the Hamptons, the home encourages indoor-outdoor living. Facilitating alfresco activities are frontage on Channel Pond, a refreshing pool and spa, and a pool house with a covered porch, a changing room, and a full bath. Water, in fact, is within view in nearly every direction, shimmering in sun and star light, the distant waves of the Atlantic beach creating a soothing soundtrack. Contributing to the sense of peace and quietude is a distinct lack of street traffic, although the estate nonetheless benefits from effortless proximity to premier golf courses as well as the shops, restaurants, and cultural destinations of Southampton Village.
The prospect of owning a historic property has an undying appeal, particularly for those who cherish unique architectural elements, a bond with a particular place, and a sense of provenance. The Fordune Estate represents just such a rare opportunity: this home and two neighboring residences may be acquired together, creating a compound of nearly nine acres, continuing on a more modest scale the Ford family’s tradition of a life lived in consummate privacy and convenience in one of the world’s most desirable locations.
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