Cloudline
Columbia County, NY, USA
2013

Perched on a cliff in upstate New York, this house in Columbia County dramatizes the relationship between the building and the landscape in its interplay of two volumes. The glazed western facade of the lower volume opens to stunning views that extend fifty miles to the Hudson River, while the eastern portion nestles partially below the ground plane of the dense woodland. The views of the natural landscape are in turn juxtaposed with glimpses of contemporary art throughout the house. The siting of the house also takes advantage of prevailing winds, with operable windows strategically placed to promote cross-ventilation and minimize the use of cooling systems.

The open lower level consists of living, dining, kitchen, and reading spaces, and maximizes natural daylighting. Rooms are arranged to optimize sunlight at particular times of day corresponding to programmatic use; the kitchen faces the morning’s eastern sunrise while the living room provides sunset views. On the upper level, bedrooms organized around the perimeter capitalize on views and light; a private library/archive anchors the center, assuring archival and art content are protected from harmful UV light. Discreet apertures in the upper level, reflecting the less public programs, contrast with the extensive glazing of the lower level and respond to the precise position of occupants within the house. Large overhangs on the south and west give shade, and solar panels on the roof provide domestic hot water. Glazing throughout the house has a low-e coating, keeping the house cool in the summer while concrete slab floors used throughout have the thermal mass to absorb solar heat through the glazing and warm the interior in the winter.

The upper level is clad in a recycled and fully-recyclable aluminum foam, which captures the dappled pattern of sunlight in the surrounding forest, reflecting the movement of the sun over the course of the day. With time, the aluminum will develop a patina, making visible the effects of weathering, while its material properties also help to reduce heat gain. The residential context is a novel one for the unusual and humble material, which is often used for industrial acoustic control. This project marks one of the first applications of this unique material as an exterior rain screen. Transforming a matter-of-fact substance into something ethereal through more tailored detailing is a Dada pragmatism tactic that achieves perceptive effect. Artistic strategies have been adopted in both the overall architectural vocabulary and the materiality of the design, reflecting the collection of art throughout the building.

Credits:

Design Team: Toshiko Mori, Jolie Kerns
Structural & Civil: Crawford & Associates Engineering
MEP: Plus Group Consulting Engineers
Landscape: Gregg Bleam Landscape Architect
Lighting: Tillotson Design Associates

Photographs © Iwan Baan