Two access staircases lead into the 380-square-metre (4,100 square-foot) residence. One is located near the middle of the building, while the other is at one of the extremities.
Ghent House by Thomas Phifer and Partners. Photograph by Scott Frances.
Project description by Thomas Phifer and Partners
The Ghent House was designed as a linear collection of structures, slightly askew from one another and partially embedded into a hillside. Each structure contains one room. Slightly raised interconnecting underground passages link the rooms spatially and conceptually.
The building’s low profile minimizes its impact on the sprawling 78-acre site. A small, elevated entry building leads down and into the passage that connects the house’s four bedrooms, kitchen, living, and dining rooms.
Each room is focused on a large, glazed opening that provides spectacular views of the Catskill Mountains and access to the exterior. The site design accommodates sculpture, sitting areas, a pool, walking paths, and beehives, and provides ample grazing land for local cattle farmers.
