Compound in the Hudson

Designed to fit the site’s landscape and blend with the local architectural vernacular, three structures on a 75 acre lot in Columbia County, New York, resolve contradictions to provide a home for a young family of four.  A main house includes two garages, seven bedrooms, four living areas yet feels like an intimate home. A balcony connecting the bedrooms overlooks a double height living and dining area, giving the owners a view of the whole house, which greatly contributes to the feeling of intimacy. Compromised of two volumes, a rectangular wood sided volume intersects a shingled pitched roof structure. The former contains a large garage, guest bedrooms, and a playroom and can be closed off when not in use from the shingled structure, which contains the family bedrooms and main living spaces. The entry to a screened porch lies on axis with the entry hallway, with sweeping views across the valley to one side.  A covered outdoor terrace overlooks the pool, and provides a panoramic view unobstructed by columns. Stone steps lead down to a long pool, and continue into the pool, reminiscent of ancient step-wells found in India. A separate guest house for long term visitors is limited to 900 sq.ft by local zoning ordinances, but contains two bedrooms, a living / dining / kitchen area and a large wrapping screen porch nestled in trees with a view and within earshot of the river that borders the property.  A barn is loaded in another meadow on the property and creates spaces for activities in inclement weather, and holds a large PV solar array. The compound uses geothermal energy for heating and cooling, with efficient heat pumps that greatly reduce the need for fossil fuel energy.