Recreational Habitats: Casa Meu, North Haven
Written By: Lorenzo Azevedo
In the woods of North Haven, a secluded peninsula in the Hamptons, sits my childhood home. Like most houses in the Hamptons, ours has a name: Casa Meu. The name refers to my constant childhood requests in toddler-speak Portuguese to go back to “my house.” How fitting, as throughout my life Casa Meu has always been the perfect getaway from whatever troubled me, whether it be college, relationship woes, work or ennui—now of course, it’s Corona.
Only a bike ride or run from Sag Harbor, I spend my mornings in the village with a coffee or juice, then make my way back to the house for a plunge in the pool. Lapo, my family’s golden retriever keeps me company while I read on the hammock or lunch on one of our antique ironwork sets.
The gardens are most definitely my favorite part of the house, but the art collection comes in close second. On weekends we would normally host friends and on Sundays our patio became a dining room and kitchen both, filling with guests and lots of rosé. Afterwards we would all migrate to Sunset Beach for dinner and dancing to end the weekend.
In the turbulent times of Corona, I have discovered a new appreciation for my oasis. I spend my workday moving between the home office and my bedroom, appreciating the colorful views of the gardens—a stark contrast to the glass and steel views of my NYC office. And as we aren’t hosting any weekend visitors this summer, I find myself with a lot more free time to enjoy the grounds and nearby beaches.
I’ve been able to catch up on my reading (I just finished Jonathan Kaufman’s The Last Kings of Shanghai which I highly recommend for any history buffs), take sunset kayak rides, and spend evenings cooking local produce or having a drink with my quarantine pod by the fire pit.
Image Right, Lorenzo and Me our first year at NYU.
Lorenzo and I both lived on the 16th floor of Founders our first year at NYU. We became fast friends immediately because of our mutual love for fashion and art. Since he grew up in New York, Lorenzo knew how to get into the best clubs even when we were freshmen! We’ve had so many hilarious adventures together including my first trip out to the Hamptons on the Jitney. Since then, we’ve remained close, bonding over growing up, getting older, but always having fun. I’ll always appreciate Lorenzo for introducing me to the New York world and sharing his impeccable eye with me.
