House 1
Rick first came to the Berkshires for summer camp, and as a hobby he makes Arts &
Crafts furniture. His program called for an intimate lodge/retreat built of
materials & details in tune with the land and his sensibilty. The site is a forested
mountain plateau with a central meadow. The enclosed nature of the meadow captured
our imaginations as a starting point.
The angled wings of the main house and
garage/workshop create a sheltered courtyard facing southeast towards the clearing.
Native fieldstone piers, boulders, and path stones anchor the bluestone loggia,
terrace and screened porch to the land. Glass slag, found locally as a byproduct
from historical iron forges, is set into the stone piers for its color and
reflectivity.
The traditional 2-story main gable structure contains the living
spaces and 2nd floor bedrooms. The living spaces are modestly-scaled, and richly
detailed with built-ins of various wood species: cherry kitchen cabinets & closets,
a walnut & fieldstone hearth/media unit, maple window seats & entry closet, and
pecan bathroom vanities.
Large expanses of glass connect the interior to the
landscape. The master bedroom and guest suites are attached at the ends of the main
house, as if accured there over time. A loggia connects the foyer to the
garage/workshop, separating the parking area from the courtyard. The laminated pine
beams and spruce ceilings of the loggia & screened porch continue indoors into the
foyer, living, and dining areas. The screend porch frames one side of the courtyard
terrace, and is entered via a short hall off the Master bedroom.
The flow of space
throughout is defined by the subtle collision of angled geometries creating
informal, individual living spaces oriented to particular views of the landscape.
Energy Star certified.
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