A family approached NYC–based Slade Architecture to design a new home in upstate New York that would balance privacy with openness while providing connections to the outdoors. Slade Architecture’s solution fulfills both requests. The home consists of two rectangular volumes stacked on top of each other, each oriented differently and composed of different materials.

The glass upper volume contains the more public functions of the home, including the living, dining, and cooking areas. The lower level houses the more private spaces, including the bedrooms, bathrooms, and a study.

The glass upper level is designed to preserve views of the landscape. It rests delicately with one end atop the lower level and the other end on a natural hill on the site. The lower level’s stone cladding gives it a particular weight and distinction, while weathered steel accents connect the two volumes.

Two volumes are stacked perpendicular to each other, and the top of the lower volume provides space for a green roof and an outdoor terrace accessible directly off the upper floor’s kitchen. Slade Architecture sourced local stone for the lower volume, creating a material connection between the building and the landscape.

Sustainable design was also an important factor in the residence. Each volume is oriented to take advantage of passive thermal strategies based on the home's materiality. The upper floor, with its triple-insulated glazing, is oriented to conserve energy by maximizing solar penetration and heat gain in the winter. In the summer, an overhanging canopy minimizes exposure to direct sunlight.

The lower level features superinsulated walls, and stone flooring that creates a “thermal flywheel” to stabilize the temperature. The home also draws upon geothermal wells to heat and cool the building, and radiant floors are supplemented by a geothermal heatpump-driven forced air system. The homeowners plan to use remote solar cells to provide electricity for the building, allowing the home to be decoupled from the electrical grid.

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On the interior, Slade Architecture sought to use materials with low embodied energy. The home features extensive wood millwork—including the paneling in the mudroom and study, the cabinetry in the master bathroom, and the ceiling in the bathroom—sourced from trees located on the farm.

Slade Architecture's approach unites the two volumes in cohesive, unified way while carrying out the desired functions and preserving sight lines to the landscape.

Related Reading: A Minimalist Retreat Rises From Old Stone Walls in Hudson Valley

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Slade Architecture