Three Ponds Farm Estate
A commercial real estate pioneer’s dream led to an exquisite
and distinguished estate.
By Cherilyn Sajorda

Bridgehampton, New York
8 bedrooms
20,000 square feet
60 acres
For every new height in luxury real estate that is reached, one
property is responsible for setting the bar. Generating the cal-
iber of a 5-star resort is no small feat in the Hamptons, but
the Three Ponds Farm estate accomplishes just that. From a United
States Golf Association-rated golf course to more than a dozen design-
er gardens, this 60-acre retreat retains an unbeatable standout pow-
er thanks to the acclaimed architects who made it a reality.
“Pretty dramatic,” is listing agent Susan Breitenbach of The
Corcoran Group’s quick assessment of the waterfront estate.“Every-
thing is just the very best there is, from the gardens to the house to
the golf course.”
When the late real estate mogul Edward S. Gordon first envi-
sioned this property, he knew to bring together the very best of the
best to bring it to life. Three pristine kettle ponds, for which the com-
pound is named, punctuate the green-carpeted grounds. Stocked
with bass, perch and pickerel, they are an adornment of the proper-
ty’s illustrious landscape designed by renowned architect Edmund
D. Hollander. Constructing the estate was no easy task—at one point
the George Washington Bridge was shut down to bring in an assem-
blage of trees for the property.
The shining jewels of Hollander’s architecture are 14 distinct
gardens, which include a traditional English cottage garden, lily walk,
a crabapple allee, butterfly garden, and exquisite rose gardens mod-
eled after those of the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. The palatial grounds
also include a 75-foot flush-edge pool with its own pavilion, a pool
house, unique fish house and a grass tennis court.
“Because of new zoning regulations, you can’t duplicate
this property or build anything like it in the Hamptons,”
informs Breitenbach. Building plans were executed by Stephen
Breitenbach of Hamptons-based Breitenbach Builders.

Three Ponds can adapt to all styles of living and entertaining. As a corporate retreat, it beckons for business execs to play a round of golf on its private 18-hole course designed by famed golf architect Reese Jones. As a family compound, the meticulously maintained home extends 8 bedrooms and 12 baths, plus a separate guest cottage encompassing its own 4 acres for visiting friends and relatives. The approximately 20,000-square-foot main residence is the masterpiece of architect Allan Greenberg, renowned for his work on such sites as the White House, Princeton University and Rockefeller Center. Despite its impressive size, Breitenbach insists,“it doesn’t have a cavernous feel,” and maintains a comfort for livability.

The interior, graced by the hands of internationally acclaimed designer Michael Christiano, assures no small detail was overlooked. Exceptional finishes and craftsmanship are key components of the residence, from the custom mahogany doors and rounded plaster ceilings to the 28-foot-high domed great room and the loggia featuring a fireplace with a unique indoor-outdoor feel.

“There was no budget for the home, so everything about it
was taken to a new level,” Breitenbach emphasizes. “The size, the
views, all the amenities—it just stands out in every way.”