Theres an architectural renaissance happening on Fire Island Pines. And its being led by BOND, a New York-based architecture studio founded by Noam Dvir and Daniel Rauchwerger, business (and real-life) partners who are presently helming over 15 projects across the storied gay mecca. (The firm is an acronym for Bureau of Noam and Daniel.) Recently, the American Institute of Architects New York paid tribute to the work of BOND through a tour of its Pines projects, which include a 1950s Sears catalog home and the residence of Andrew Kirtzman, a prominent reporter who is hailed as the unofficial mayor of the hamlet. Pictured in this spread, these projects pay tribute to the legacy of Fire Islands midcentury pioneers, Horace Gifford and Harry Bates, while also preparing for a future impacted by climate change. And vitally, the queer-led BOND understands the role of construction in the preservation of culture, community, and history, which cofounder Noam Dvir discusses ahead. Partners in life and love, Daniel Rauchwerger (left) and Noam Dvir.Chris FucileTell us how you met and fell in love.We met back in Israel when we were both journalists for [the] Haaretz newspaper. I was the architectural critic, and Daniel wrote about the art world. It was kind of love at first sight. I was invited to be a guest critic on his review in architecture school in Jerusalem, and I saw him walking into the room and knew that this is going to be the rest of my life. Tarpon ExteriorChris MottaliniYou founded an architecture studio together, BOND. How did that come about?We started working on a few smaller projects like exhibitions and design research while we were still students at Harvard Graduate School of Design. Later on, we worked for the same architecture office, but it was always our dream to start our own practice; we waited until we got our green cards and started BOND pretty much right after [in] winter of 2020. It was COVID lockdown, and we basically started the office in our own living room. Like many architecture studios, we started with small projects, mostly for us and for friendsstudio apartments and one-bedroom renovations. The first significant project we had was a design for Company Gallery in SoHo in New York, and thats what kind of put us on the map in terms of being a real office. Shortly after that, we also started working with [art collector] Ilan Cohen on his Fire Island house. That was the first project we did in the Pines. Tarpon ExteriorChris MottaliniHow would you characterize the work you do with BOND?Our work is deeply personal and is driven by a strong narrative. Projects begin in the conceptual realm and manifest through strong architectural moves. Every and each project is unique, and with every project, we try to say something new.What are the rewards and challenges of working together as a couple?We could write an entire article about this. We are very lucky that we complement and complete each other both professionally and personally. Life is work, and work is life, and we are so lucky to have been able to build a practice around queer clients and queer culture. Nautilus ExteriorChris MottaliniWhy is working on Fire Island important to you?There are few places in the world where theres such a distinct connection between architecture, ecology, and gender. The architecture of the Pines embodies this unique relationship and presents a utopia-like environment: multigenerational, queer-focused, and community-focused. Nautilus Living RoomChris MottaliniWhat are some of the difficulties you encounter while building on an island?To start with, its an island so every tile, sheet rock panel, sofa, spoon, and stud (if you pardon the pun) has to go on a boat. This presents a logistical difficulty and added complexity to the construction process. The permitting in coastal environments, prone to storms, adds a layer of structural and mechanical complexity to the design. And to top it all off, theres a limited number of contractors, plumbers, and electricians available to work on projects at any given time. On our end, this means more planning and more assistance in the procurement of materials, and more oversight of projects under construction. Most of the work is carried out during winter the general contractors are heroes, really! They show up in rain, snow, and sun. Ilan Cohens Dining RoomChris MottaliniIn a given project, how do you go about honoring Fire Islands history and community while also looking to its future?The Pines has an incredible architectural legacy: Architects like Horace Gifford and Harry Bates developed a unique expression of modern architecture that is in sync with the natural surroundings and with the special lifestyle in the Pines. We are honored to contribute to this legacy, and with many of our projects, we seek to establish a direct connection to the style and attitude developed in the Pines in the 1960s and 1970s using cedar wood, designing spaces for nonnuclear families, thinking of how houses accommodate queer lifestyles. Where do people gather? Where do people gossip? How do you design spaces for desire? llan Cohens Home InteriorChris MottaliniTell us about your favorite project on Fire Island.We are currently building our first ground-up [construction] in the Pines. Its the largest single property in the Pines, covering three lots. The design has a floating volume hovering above a generous deck space and an open courtyard that connects the deck to the house and the house to the roof deck. It is also one of the first ground-ups to be built to FEMA regulations, which means that the house is raised 14 feet above sea level. Its an important building in the context of the Pines, but also a case study for many coastal communities.What do you hope is the legacy of your work?I hope that our work both preserves and innovates on the incredible legacy of the Pines, and that it continues to entice homeowners and guests in years to come.This article is part of Out's July/August issue, which hits newsstands July 1. Support queer media and subscribe or download the issue through Apple News, Zinio, Nook, or PressReader starting June 19.