NORTH SALEM FARM Architectural volume through a simplification of the elements
Worrell Yeung ’ s North Salem Farm project , the design , and renovation of a collection of new and existing buildings for a family in upstate New York , continues the studio ’ s interest in expressing architectural volume through a simplification of the elements . Set within the agrarian landscape of Westchester County , this family home was designed to be thoughtfully integrated into the landscape .
Worrell Yeung ’ s design gathers three separate structures at the narrow , Northwest side of the 8.7- acre triangular lot , which widens and slopes softly downwards from the street towards a pond and hillside . Working closely with Raft Landscape , the team developed a site strategy that shields the main house from the abutting street and focuses views from each structure towards the landscape . At the entrance , a new driveway and angular entry gravel court arranged around a mature Magnolia tree , introduce a minimal , abstract aesthetic that runs through the project , adding texture to traditional gabled forms .
The studio gut renovated and expanded the main home ( originally a converted dairy barn ) and added a ground-up garage / studio , and spa shed . The three buildings iterate on the archetypal gabled form of the American barn while also distinguishing themselves with varying approaches to cladding and material detail . “ We didn ’ t want a monotonous experience of moving from one dark-clad building to the next ,” says coprincipal Jejon Yeung . “ As a whole , we read the collection of buildings as siblings that are closely related — like cousins .”
Echoing and updating the agrarian vernacular , the main house is characterized by dark metal roofing and custom dark green stained cypress wood siding in a varied batten pattern . “ The exterior palette was inspired by dark mossy covered barns and so we came up with a custom stain that takes on different readings depending on the light and season while still imbuing the character of the cypress wood ,” says Yeung . The approach side is defined by a mostly solid facade with an articulated dormer , while the rear features new enlarged windows with panoramic views trained towards the pond .
Inside , a large timber gabled roof structure stretching from one end to the other creates an open dramatic central communal space . Working with Silman Structural , Worrell Yeung scaled up exposed rafters to match the truss member sizes , so that only the steel tie rods are visible . The result is a uniform , minimal , and starkly elegant ceiling .
The living area is organized with a freestanding Douglas Fir wood object at the core of the room that contains an entry closet , bench , and bar . The room is bookended by a fireplace / bookcase wall on one side and a guest wing volume on the other ; both are clad in black wood to contrast light Douglas Fir wood floors and a matching wood structure above . The bookcase itself highlights the original fireplace , which has been reclad in soapstone and is redesigned to incorporate music and book storage on one side and a new exterior door that leads to the new outdoor deck on the other . Significantly , Worrell Yeung designed an elegant communal farm dining table crafted from salvaged timber found on site .
Opposite , the kitchen is a more intimate space organized around a central zinc-clad island and Douglas Fir wood millwork cabinetry , while a powder room with dark-red stained wirebrushed cypress walls and a blue encaustic tile floor offers a serene , cool counterpoint . A small
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