Located in historic Hudson Valley, the four acre site is situated in southern Columbia County, bordering Duchess County to the south. Two hours north of New York City, following the Taconic State Parkway through a picturesque countryside highlighted by orchards, horse farms and vineyards, the site is eventually accessed through Moore Road by a private driveway. Situated on top of a gentle slope overlooking a pond, the house is surrounded by dense vegetation to the south and north, while commanding a vineyard view to the east, and a view of the distant Black Dome Mountain to the west.
The 2,000 square foot house is designed as a weekend retreat from hectic city life, as well as, for entertaining friends and enjoying the nature and the countryside surrounding it. After studying the programmatic, functional, and budgetary requirements, the proposal formed the plan for a hybrid of the New England Salt Box typology: a 50'L X 20'W X 25'H rectangular box with 11' high public spaces on first floor and 9' high private rooms on second floor. In accordance with the local ground conditions and building tradition, the construction consists of concrete foundation/footings, supporting a wood framed enclosure with spatial layouts based upon standard modular construction dimensions.
Attention to human scale and material detailing is integral to the design throughout the house, as evident in the spatial proportions of public spaces and private rooms, along with detailing ranging from corner windows to concealed cabinetry. Similar in spirit to Shaker houses built in the Hudson Valley, in years long past, the house's functional and contemplative character can be seen as a modern reinterpretation of house on the prairie.