Legendary Architect Steven Holl’s Y House in the Catskills Hits the Market For $1.6M
Located in a lonely mountain setting less than an hour's drive from Albany, New York, the firetruck-red Y House is an alluring example of Steven Holl’s residential work. Public and private spaces alternate throughout the layered interior, which is split across two arms that branch off from the main entrance.
The home is perched on a hilltop in the Catskill Mountains of Upstate New York. The steel framing and metal roof are iron-oxide red, while the siding is stained cedar.
Holl is well-known for his mega projects—including the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma in Helsinki and the Linked Hybrid in Beijing (more commonly know as the "horizontal skyscraper"). Yet, even as a world-renowned architect, he has never lost interest in smaller residential projects.
As if rising toward the sky, southern-facing balconies cap each end of the structure. The deep overhangs filter harsh summer rays while allowing winter sunlight to penetrate deep into the home.
In an 2012 interview with Architectural Digest, Holl reflects on just this point: "Residences offer almost immediate gratification. You can shape space, light, and materials to a degree that you sometimes can’t in larger projects. I think architecture, to be really intense and fulfilling, doesn’t have to be large."
The home's main entrance branches off to the kitchen and a bedroom on the first floor. Ash flooring contrasts with smooth walls of crisp white and concrete.
Three bedrooms plus three and a half bathrooms are spread out across the nearly 3,000-square-foot home. From the entrance, the home immediately splits into two halves, with a kitchen and two bedrooms on either side of the first floor. The living room and master bedroom are located upstairs to maximize views.
The kitchen features a large island, along with contrasting shades of cabinetry and flooring. The deeply linear space pulls the eye toward the covered deck.
Two bedrooms on the lower level weave together via adjoining doors and a common access point to the outdoors. Custom, geometric windows are placed around the room.
At the top of the landing, the kitchen is visible below while the living room and master bedroom branch off ahead. The multilevel floor plan adds a layered dimension to the home, with rooms seemingly crossing on top of others.
Upon entering the upper-level living room, the eye is immediately drawn outward by the glasswork and deep overhang. Vast stretches of wall space display the current homeowner's contemporary art collection.
A view toward the other end reveals the ceiling's dramatic slope. A concrete fireplace appears as structural artwork, dividing the space while striking contrast with the warmer wood materials.
In the opposite arm, a master bedroom offers a private balcony and large doors frame the lush surroundings. Wooden floors and ceilings add to the organic feel of this minimalist space.
In this bathroom, marble tiles contrast with a modern black vanity. Natural light coming in from a large window reflects off the stone and tongue-and-groove wooden ceiling.
Balconies cap the ends of each arm, directing views outward from interior spaces. The steel framing appears stick-like in its simplicity.
Spread out across 33 mountain acres, the property also offers a large pond with a boathouse. A dense forest surrounds the hidden location.
The large boathouse features walls of glass and original artwork by David Novros, creating an unexpectedly refined atmosphere.
434 Lawton Hollow Road is currently listed for $1,600,000 by Raj Kumar of The Lillie K. Team at Select Sotheby’s International Realty.
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