Amanda Martocchio Architects was approached to help envision a family home situated high above the Hudson Valley, at the edge of a mature woodland with views of the rolling meadows of Dutchess County. The land the client acquired was personal and familiar, having been a part of their childhood adventures in the woods. They aimed to preserve the forests and restore the grazing meadows, paddocks, and barns to create a boarding facility for thoroughbred horses. In collaboration with landscape architect Stimson, AMA sought to integrate the house into the mature oak trees, lowering its profile by embedding it into the hill and designing a lower-level terrace and pool that overlooks the meadow. Each room offers a unique view of the surrounding landscape through its windows, which range from vertical slots to large, framed openings, all equipped with concealed motorized shades. 

Stones from the centuries-old walls of an Upstate New York farm were repurposed for the new site walls, house cladding, and fireplaces. A palette of gray/brown stone and stained mahogany siding creates a smooth transition from inside to outside, linking the house to its landscape. A two-sided glass gathering space overlooks the sole lawn “panel” on one side and the terrace that looks out over the sloping pasture below. Twelve-foot-tall glass doors slide open to form a twenty-four-foot-wide opening at the terrace. The house features cantilevered bedroom and office volumes, with roofs extending to provide sun shading on the south and west facades. Robust insulation and significant thermal mass, thanks to the stone walls, along with rainscreen detailing, contribute to making this a high-performance home.