Conceived as an open loft with a play of natural light and located on a two and a half acre hillside surrounded by a pristine national park in the Hudson Valley, this 1960’s log house was completely renovated by TAKATINA.
The shift of the natural light in the space throughout the day and year is the focus of the design while new black stained cedar siding maintains traditional yet clean architectural . Large penetrations are carefully studied and placed to capture the morning light and the dramatic sunsets. The main area features a 14’ high cathedral ceiling with an 18’ X 4’ north facing skylight which disperses a soft glow throughout the day while the south facing ribbon of windows provides a panoramic mountain view. New douglas fir gluelam beam creates a play of light and shadow on the existing re-stained oak floors. A custom industrial l stair, which accesses a sleeping loft above, floats weightlessly within the space.
The palette of white painted sheetrock walls and dark stained floor, posts and beams creates a calm contrast. This simple palette and exposed framing are inspired by the Japanese “Minka”, a traditional farmhouse-style that originated in the early 1600’s.
The existing wood burning fireplace was modernized to conform to the serene feel of the house. Elegant in its simplicity, it is perceived as a penetration in a white painted floating plane with no surround, mantle or detail. The slate hearth is installed flush with the existing wood floor for a seamless integration.
For the kitchen, powder and shower rooms, an 18’ long freestanding wall was installed to separate these functions. Walls and floor are fully sheathed in a monolithic Italian grey porcelain tile which is juxtaposed against the existing “raw” wood ceiling to create a modern loft atmosphere.
