Getting Away

August 12, 2014

Jeffrey S. Poss’ Double-Gable Woodland Dwelling Shelters Guests and a Sculpture Studio Inside

No, you are not seeing double, at least not quite. This sweet woodland shelter was created for two different functions, hence its unique double-gable design. Called the Polygon Sculpture Studio, this shelter in Hague, New York, doubles as a guesthouse and small work studio. It was designed by architect Jeffrey S. Poss and offers a comfortable, light-filled space for guests, as well as a great environment for artistic creation.
Learn more about this woodland shelter here
August 7, 2014

Tranquil Wooden Cottage by Gray Organschi Architecture is Topped by a Lush, Moss Roof

Perched atop an upland meadow in Guilford, Connecticut is a charming wooden guesthouse growing lush, fluffy moss on its roof. Designed by Gray Organschi Architecture, the Cottage is a small but brilliant dwelling, designed to optimize the visual and environmental qualities of the area. Featuring panoramic views of the Long Island Sound and Thimble Islands, this tranquil shelter is a successful experiment in architecture and sustainable design.
Learn more about this green-roofed guesthouse here
August 7, 2014

The Roundhouse at Beacon Falls is a Former Industrial Site Turned Locally Designed Getaway

There's so much talk these days about the happenings up in Beacon, New York, from the Dia:Beacon, undoubtedly the area's biggest attraction, to the locally sourced restaurants lining the Hudson. And if you're hoping to make this upstate getaway longer than just a day trip, the Roundhouse at Beacon Falls can accommodate much more than just your overnight stay. Aryeh Siegel, unofficial "architect of Beacon," was enlisted by developer Robert A. McAlpine to restore and adaptively resue the buildings on this 9-acre, 19th century industrial site located on the Fishkill Creek. They were transformed into a complex including a hotel, restaurant, and event space. Historically appropriate, modern private residences were added, and the former power house is being reconstructed to provide hydro-electric power, which will account for 60% of the hotel's energy. The Rockwell Group outfitted the hotel and restaurant interiors with a contemporary yet rustic design esthetic, incorporating pieces from local artisans.
Take a tour through this gorgeous getaway
August 1, 2014

A Boardwalk Connects Historic Buildings at Bates Masi + Architects’ Mothersill Home

Elevated, wooden boardwalks are a common site along the beaches and dunes of Eastern Long Island. Their simple, resilient construction carefully negotiates the changing terrain, allowing accessibility to the sandy shores and deep blue sea. Bates Masi + Architects takes this vernacular design esthetic to a new level in their beautiful Mothersill home, which uses a boardwalk to connect the main property with sunbathing terraces, a pool, and two historic wooden shelters by renowned architect Andrew Geller.
More about the Mothersill home here
July 20, 2014

1970s Orient House IV by Ryall Porter Sheridan Architects Employs Passive House Principles

Manhattan-based Ryall Porter Sheridan Architects recently renovated a 1970s house into a green escape that strictly follows Passive House standards. Located in Long Island just a few steps away from the sea, the minimal Orient House IV is completely clad in aged timber and features expansive north-facing windows that not only frame the beautiful views of its locale, but pulls in plenty of natural light. Designed to be more than just a vacation home, this stunning getaway is about as eco-friendly as it gets, and is said to be the second most energy-efficient structure on the island.
Learn more about the Orient House IV here
July 19, 2014

INTERVIEW: NYC Architect Drew Lang Gives Us the Scoop on Hudson Woods, A Private Eco-Community in the Catskills

Move over Hamptons — there's a new second-home hotbed for New Yorkers: the Catskills. The four-season destination has been growing in popularity over the past several years, but is now reaching new heights thanks to Drew Lang and Lang Architecture's forest getaway community Hudson Woods. Located in Kerhonkson, New York, just two hours from New York City, the 131-acre development will feature 26 sustainably designed, site-specific dwellings, each located on its own spacious lot. Buyers can personalize their homes with curated upgrades including a pool and pool house, outdoor kitchen, vegetable garden, fruit tree grove, treehouse, and solar power energy system, among other things. Hudson Woods' tagline is "where design meets nature," and one look at the site makes this statement ring true. We sat down with Drew Lang to get an inside take on the project, and to learn more about the increasingly sought after Catskills community.
Read our full interview here
July 17, 2014

Studio Allergutendinge’s Soul Box is a Portable Retreat for ‘Glamping’ in Nature

If you feel the need for a summer break away from the city but don't want to rough it in the great outdoors there is always the option of "glamping", or glamorous camping. For those want to keep the comforts of home in reach, this mobile wooden shelter by studio Allergutendinge is the ideal solution. It offers all the conveniences of home and can be transported just about anywhere.
Find out more about Soul Box here
July 15, 2014

Bates Masi + Architects Gives an Incredible Modern Update to a House They Built 35 Years Ago

When the new owners of this beautiful woodland home on Long Island decided they needed some extra space, they contacted the same architects that built the property 35 years before: Bates Masi + Architects. The New York-based creatives worked to update and expand the Re-cover House, preserving its original spaces, simplicity and rustic soul. Clad in beautifully aged silver cypress wood, the house's entire renovation re-uses materials from the original design.
See the impeccably designed interior here
July 8, 2014

Bates Masi + Architects’ Potato Barn-Inspired Luxury Home Blends With the Landscape

NY-based Bates Masi + Architects designed a luxurious family home in East Hampton that pays homage to a local typology: the potato barn. Located in a 19th century waterfront community, the Piersons Way house consists of a series of gabled interconnected volumes clad in light Alaskan yellow shakes. This beautiful house rises among bamboo canes and tall silver grasses, protecting its own privacy while blending within the natural surroundings.
Tour the home here
July 7, 2014

Susan Wisniewski Landscape’s River House is an Enchanting Hudson Valley Escape

Nestled in the quaint town of Coxsackie, New York is a residential garden oasis with crystal clear views of the Hudson River and magical green landscaping that could very well serve as the backdrop for a children's fairytale book. The enchanting grounds of the River House were designed by Susan Wisniewski Landscape, who created a natural-looking setting to frame the environmentally friendly Hudson Valley home.
Take a tour of the beautiful outdoor space
July 3, 2014

Shigeru Ban’s Hamptons Home Is the Perfect Modernist Getaway for City Dwellers

Shigeru Ban's star has risen, and his 2014 Pritzker Prize is attracting attention to all his designs, like the recently opened Cast Iron House. But did you know that one of his lesser known works lies just outside of New York City? If you're looking for a reason to get out of town, and would like to see one of Ban's homes up close, then all you have to do is take a drive to the Hamptons.
See our gallery of the building here
July 3, 2014

Rent This Oceanfront Long Island Retreat Designed by Resolution: 4 Architecture

East Quogue, a town located on the far end of Long Island, is littered with beach houses thanks to its picturesque oceanfront location. It's the perfect escape for New York City families to leave behind the hustle and bustle of Big Apple living and swap their tiny apartments for sprawling vacation homes. Because of its location on a barrier island, that doesn't hold true for this dune retreat, which meant the team at Resolution: 4 Architecture has to be as efficient with space as possible.
See how the architects overcome their dilemma
July 2, 2014

CityLiving in Rome: From New York to Eat. Eat. Eat.

Like the author Elizabeth Gilbert of Eat. Pray. Love. fame, I’ve embarked on an international excursion that includes an extended stay in Rome. Unlike Ms. Gilbert, I’m not on a three continent journey in search of pleasure, enlightenment and emotional connections, nor will I be visiting any other lands beyond the peninsular confines of Italy. I’m here for five weeks to teach a creative writing class at John Cabot University, but I share a sense of her aspirations, if only in a somewhat adjusted manner, so I feel entitled to appropriate parts of her narrative into my CityLiving column while I’m here. This first dispatch will be about food.
Follow Andrew as he eats his way through Rome
June 12, 2014

These Hamptons Houses by James Biber are Made for Both Summer and Winter Living

James Biber's portfolio features plenty of famous and easy-to-recognize works. In New York, the acclaimed architect has made his mark with designs like the Fashion Center kiosk and CUNY's Macaulay Honors College. Outside of the city, he's been on board projects that include the Harley-Davidson Museum and Arizona Cardinals Stadium. These big-name clients are the result of nearly 25 years in the industry, but often it's the smaller ones that leave the strongest impression. Case in point: Biber calls these three houses in Long Island "a seminal course in building."
Details on the three buildings here
June 6, 2014

Jonathan Adler’s Chic Shelter Island House is Up for Rent This Summer

What happens when two of New York City's most creative minds — interior designer Jonathan Adler and fashion guru Simon Doonan — deck out a summer home? You get a colorful Shelter Island beach house that screams seaside chic. The couple's busy schedules take them all around the world, which is good news for New Yorkers still looking for a Hamptons rental — the playful pad is available for the month of July. Situated in a secluded area on Crab Creek, the airy 1,300-square-foot beach house is far more stylish than your average summer rental and probably a lot pricier, too — it's currently listed for $11,000 a month.
Peek inside the vibrant Hamptons home