Ultramodern and Artistic in the New York Woods

A home in upstate New York can be a great respite from the huge town, but it can also be a bit lonely occasionally. That’s the reason why this house, at the base of the Shawangunk Mountains, was created not just to embrace nature but also to promote socializing. An attorney possesses it, and roughly a third of this area is devoted to guest quarters. Architect William Reue even went so far as to make individual entrances for the homeowner and her guests, and so that both can come and go as they socialize together in the ample living space.

at a Glance
Location:
Upstate New York
Size:
4,800 square feet (446 square meters); 4 bedrooms, 41/2 bathrooms

Photography by Steve Freihon

William Reue Architecture

Need a reason to leave town? About the stars? A two-hour drive from the Big Apple puts you in contact with the woods and celestial bodies.

A curving wall coated in Cor-Ten steel makes for a mysterious first impression. However, it has a practical purpose also: The wall shields the home from cold north winds. In this perspective we see that the guest “wing” in bluestone on the right.

William Reue Architecture

The house sits on a approximately 8-acre package with loads of trees and a small bit of water. The Cor-Ten creates an artistic statement in the scene, especially in the snowy months, even when the leaves are off the trees.

This straight-on perspective of the weathered steel wall reveals the bluestone volume projecting on the left, which houses the garage.

William Reue Architecture

Here is a remote view of this southeast-facing facet of the home, where full-height glazing is a strong counterpoint to the solid, rusty wall, the latter of that disappears from view.

A tighter view shows the living space on the right and the main bedroom to the left.

William Reue Architecture

Not surprisingly, the living area is oriented into this view through the massive wall of glass. Operable upper panes allow for cross ventilation, whereas the drapes cut down on direct sunlight.

The home is superinsulated, with 14-inch-thick SIPS (structural insulated panels) and quadruple-pane glazing. According to Reue, the home is “over 55 percent more energy efficient than a standard new house” and has got LEED Silver certification for these and other steps, including underground rainwater storage, natural cotton insulation, geothermal heating and an energy recovery ventilator.

William Reue Architecture

Reue’s modern interiors hide most of the kitchen supporting flush wood doors and flush white cabinets. The doorway on the timber volume opens into the utility room, which also functions as a mudroom; the garage is right beyond.

William Reue Architecture

The kitchen backsplash is rock wood. The floors are 4-inch-wide white oak planks set randomly lengths of 6 to 10 ft with a dark stain and a polyurethane finish.

William Reue Architecture

On the opposite wall, more flush closets surround a fireplace. Access to the main bedroom is through the gap between the fireplace and the sculpture, while on the right is a hallway that contributes to a library and guest bedrooms.

William Reue Architecture

The main bedroom continues the blank lines and quiet atmosphere of this living space. The mattress is angled relative to the walls to offer a view oriented into the road and into the gap in the trees to the east.

William Reue Architecture

The custom tub in the main bathroom protrudes from the glass shower, both of which possess the capacity for views through the glass walls.

William Reue Architecture

The guest quarters are no less sumptuous, as is evident in this particular guest toilet. Floor-to-ceiling slabs of Pecan Brown rock with a polished finish put a striking backdrop to the stand-alone tub.

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