CASE STUDY
HOUSE IN A MEADOW
The home is situated on a 30-acre wooded parcel in the town of North East , New York . The site ' s defining features are a ridge at the property ' s highest elevation and a large meadow 15 ' below .
The meadow is ringed by trees and has long , westerly views out to the Catskill Mountains . The ridge to the east is dotted with wildflowers and rocky outcroppings . Access to the house is via a winding driveway that climbs the steep eastern edge of the site and terminates at the top of the ridge . In addition to the main home , the design brief also called for a guest house and pool .
At the outset of the project , the determination was made to locate the house at the lower meadow level and along the baseline of the ridge , eliminating the need to clear existing trees . This shielded the building from prevailing winds and views at the higher arrival elevation , providing a serene and secluded environment for the home . With the house positioned , a 20 ' wide x 100 ' long adjacent section of land was removed from the downslope side of the ridge . The excavated area was then retained by a cast-in-place concrete wall , creating a flat pad between the house and the ridge . This space functions as an intimate outdoor room and forecourt , offering a contrasting experience to the wide-open meadow setting to the building ' s west .
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