Architecture Wednesday: Back to Nature Compound

This is Church House in Germantown, New York, a private 60-acre oasis at the end of a winding drive through the forest to reveal a complex of wood-clad structures sited along a gentle ridge line with Catskills views.

The buildings, nested in vegetable and flower gardens, include a main house, guest studio, artist studio and gardening workshop, entertaining pergola and barn-garage, all oriented west across extensive lawns, laid-stone walls, meadows and mature trees.

Since 2018, the owners creatively transformed this once-rough hunting property into a secluded sanctuary with a diverse native habitat, including walking trails and a 1/2 acre swim pond with dock and gazebo.

The 2000 square foot primary residence, with 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths, emphasizes simplicity and function while maximizing communal space and storage. There are two central living spaces—each with polished concrete floors—that invite gathering while the separate bedroom areas offer independence and privacy. Both the chef's kitchen—with banquette dining—and the living room-library have floor to ceiling windows that access a courtyard framed by a rock formation studded with succulents.

Additional features include radiant floors, energy efficient mini-splits, a large exterior shower and a fire-pit ledge. Wander past a wildflower meadow and hammocks and find the guest studio, a charming artistic retreat. The pergola and outdoor kitchen and dining areas surrounded by lush hydrangea beds can host large dinners. The workshop-potting shed offers both studio space and entertaining amenities.

The property was conceived to accommodate future expansion, the current septic is large enough to support a 5-bedroom home, allowing for an addition or a separate structure, supported by the supplementary 200-amp service.

Privately sited and yet centrally located in the heart of the Hudson Valley between Rhinebeck and Hudson, minutes from Germantown and Tivoli, with special restaurants, shops and culture just outside your door. Truly a unique and personal estate.

Dwell

Architecture Wednesday: River Shack

After that reviled barn conversion of a couple of weeks back—Maddie and I may or may not be making plans to drive to Connecticut and burn it down—this week’s entry is simple, and spare and minimalist; and I’m here for it.

The shack/eco-home is constructed from a mix of cement fiber, plasterboard, ironbark, spotted gum, and recycled timbers, including 200-year-old electricity poles from the early colonial settlement of Marramarra Creek. The design revolves around its remarkable setting, with the centerpiece of the open-plan layout being a single 6-metre-high window overlooking the creek. Facing north, this window opens fully onto an outdoor deck, dissolving the boundary between indoors and outdoors.

While its boxy form references traditional shack architecture, the off-grid house doesn’t skimp on comforts. A floating steel fireplace heats the living room and creates a dramatic focal point, while the interior celebrates craftsmanship with exposed wood throughout. The elevated kitchen has a custom steel sink and cooktop installed and is furnished with bespoke timber furniture. Solar energy and water are harvested on the cabin’s flat roof and stored on-site, making the home fully self-sustainable.

Two bedrooms and a bathroom are tucked at the rear of the cabin, making it suitable as either a full-time residence or a holiday home for those seeking seclusion. I might use it as a second home because it seems very secluded and I need a little something more, but I do love that, for me, it has an Asian feel with the wood and windows and the simplicity of it all.

Plus, if I wanted even more privacy than a tiny river shack, I could purchase the adjacent lot as well …

As always, click to emBIGGERate ...

The Spaces

Architecture Wednesday: Just A Couple Of Yurts

Here’s your chance—if you have $1.1M lying around—to own a one-of-a-kind custom cedar yurt home in Poughquag, New York. The house sits on over 37 acres, is directly linked to the Appalachian Trail and features an in-ground saltwater pool! Just ninety-minutes from New York City.

Positioned on its own private hill, the property has breathtaking year-round views, and allows residents to experience both sunrise and sunset. The two interconnected yurts, united by a curved breezeway, seamlessly marry the separate living spaces.

The main yurt includes a beautiful chef's kitchen that leads into the living room featuring expansive windows and breathtaking vista views. The kitchen blends functionality and style, featuring a walk-in pantry, marble countertops, double wall ovens, and a concealed induction cooktop within a handmade butcher block island. There are also two bedrooms, a well-appointed bathroom with a large soaking tub and shower, and a laundry room on this side. Upstairs you will find a loft with a half bath and a skylight allowing you to sleep under the stars while below the main level there is a finished walk out basement with an electric fireplace, family room and home gym. In the smaller yurt is the primary suite, complete with its own skylight, freestanding bathtub, washer-dryer, and a wood-burning stove.

The property features underground electric, a well, and a septic system, and boasts fields of wildflowers nestled at its base with inviting trails cleared throughout. Gardner Hollow Brook meanders through the lower portion of the land and the nearby Pawling Metro-North station offers a direct link to the city, effortlessly combining rural seclusion with urban convenience.

Again, $1.1M …

Click to emBIGGERate …

And here’s a glimpse in Summer and the inviting pool.

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