It’s impossible not to be inspired by the site. We were particularly attracted to the idea that the view was over multiple layers of water (the pool then the lake) and wanted to extrapolate this condition by creating a layered experience. In order to negotiate a very steep pitch to the site, you approach the house by walking down a path that zigzags down the slope. When you arrive at the front door, you are able to see through the entire house, to an integrated pool (another layer of water) and beyond.

This project began with the merging of two, half-acre, waterfront lots situated on a small area cove in New Fairfield with sweeping views of the lake,  At the approach, the form of the house is presented as primarily a solid – simple and tight– the only interruption being a stone-clad stair tower, while the waterside of the house is a more complex, glazed composition – a series of stacked and shifted glass planes.

In order to facilitate entertaining over the course of the day, the center of the house is designed to open on both sides in order to allow for events to seamlessly transition from waterside activities during the day, to a quiet outdoor dining experience in a garden court in the evening, tracking the sun through the course of the day.

Although this central space helps to define the separation between public functions such as living, dining, and kitchen areas from the junior master suite on the ground floor, on the second floor the family den directly above is located to create a common, ‘joined’ space linking master suite and children’s bedrooms.

Materials are simple and timeless throughout – wood, glass, and stone.