Hasta La Ideas

This country retreat by American firm Hariri & Hariri Architecture consists of interlocking volumes clad in ipe and stone and an infinity pool overlooking the verdant, rolling terrain.

The Taghkanic House is situated on a 140-acre (57-hectare )property in Columbia County, a bucolic area in upstate New York. The architects set out to create a master plan that respected the rural context, with low-slung structures integrated into the contours of the site.

“The scale and the mere beauty of the nature required a careful study of the landscape,” said Hariri & Hariri Architecture, a New York-based studio.

The holiday residence consists of a main house, a guest suite and a large shed for landscaping equipment, along with a vegetable garden and swimming pool.

While conceiving the dwelling, the firm took cues from nearby farms, which typically feature multiple barns and sheds set on open land.

“Conceptually, the whole project and the main house are designed as a collection of volumes, which are a modern reinterpretation of farm structures,” the firm said.

Clad in ipe wood and stone, the volumes were envisioned as abstract sculptural forms, with slanted walls meant to mimic “swaying barns ready to fall down”.

The spaces between each “pod” form intimate settings. Deep overhangs help shade floor-to-ceiling glass and provide a sense of enclosure.

Inside, the main home features light-filled rooms fitted with contemporary decor. Ample glazing provides sweeping views of the rolling countryside.

The kitchen and living room are divided by a towering, stone-faced fireplace. A similar hearth was placed in an outdoor living room near the infinity pool, which looks toward tree-covered hills in the distance.

Bedrooms were situated on opposing ends of the house. Adjacent to the master bedroom is a covered terrace with a jacuzzi.

Sustainability was a key concern for the project. The home is powered by 13 large solar panels, which were positioned like “works of art in the landscape”. Each panel measures 12 feet by 13 feet (3.6 by four metres).

Deep geothermal wells assist with heating and cooling, and smart systems help keep energy costs down.

“The mechanical parts of the house are monitored by a computer that reports back to the owner around the clock,” the firm said. “Temperature, alarm system, shades and lighting are also all controlled by the owner via a touch of a button.”

Upstate New York is a popular weekend getaway for urban dwellers. Other retreats in the region include a hillside dwelling clad in charred wood by Studio MM and a series of modern holiday cabins that were designed and developed by Lang Architecture.

Photography by Paul Warchol.

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