Located in Stanfordville, NY, on a 53-acre homestead-type property; surrounded by unspoiled nature of forest, glades, pond and limited street access; two hours north of NYC.

The house is +/- 10,000 sq ft of living space with 4 ensuite bedrooms, open living and dining area, den connected to an outdoor zen garden, kitchen with separate work space, small office space, music hall, large studio/ recreation space, spa and roof terrace access.

Flexible plan for user control over common and private spaces. Common spaces arranged for larger vista type views while the private bedroom spaces have a detailed view of the gardens. Spa is connected to other outdoor activities. Formal vs. informal spaces. Allows growth and change for generational living.

Project is inspired by the art of John Singer Sargent, Winslow Homer, John Calvin Stevens, Eric Sloane and the Hudson River School. Expansive Adirondak vernacular barn structures and the rock outcropping landscape, while keeping modern lines.

Taking its cues from the surrounding historic landscape of rolling hills, the site perches atop a moment of prospect that blurs the lines between the tamed and untamed. The built environment emerges from the wild bergamot and joe-pye weed to the kakoi structure of Japanese influenced meditative gardens both viewable and approachable from every window and door in the home.

From an ecopsychological perspective, being surrounded in green provides a healing and stress-relieving environment for all its inhabitants. They are encouraged to connect through the space as much as to connect to the space, listening to the sounds of water falling from the roof and to the winds blowing through the open windows beyond.

In the architecture, this allows for interaction between heavy and sharp solids of the Gneiss and Limestone with the light texture of Cedar trees in the area. There is an erosion of material from rough rock to weathered wood to the voids of clear glass. This creates a formal and informal dialogue of materials against the use of manmade concrete, a wood shingle and turf roof and sculpted chimneys. This local geography composition gives a guide to a palate of materials for the project which allows us to not be afraid of using color as seen in modern gray, black and white buildings. For example, the red color window frames are inspired by the mineral garnet found within mineral composition of the gneiss.

These ideas are adaptable to all scales from small family homes to public recreation uses. The goal is to have no trace of a designer or trends. To build a structure as it should be in its landscape and environment. To experience the property though the senses and spirit while blurring the transition between landscape and home.