Olson Kundig Architects are responsible for the design of this striking modern countryside retreat nestled on three hundred acres of rolling landscape in the Berkshires, Massachusetts. The first challenge of this project was to select the optimal construction site to maximize the surroundings.
“The choice was the ecotone—the border between two adjacent ecological systems,” states the architects. The residence spans along the border where the forest meets the meadow. The framework is narrow enough that each room, as you move through the dwelling, balances a feeling of interior refuge with distant views.
The main level of the house was raised about 10 feet above the ground, partly to maximize the views, but also to get up above the humidity and insects in the summertime, and the snow in the winter.
The living room is lined with a pair of operable window walls, each 24-feet wide by 11-feet high. They are hand-cranked via a metal wheel, which enables the glazing to completely open and suspend on cantilevered beams. When completely open, the sensation is akin to being in an elegant and comfortable tree fort, hovering above the landscape.
This same mechanism can also be found in the master bedroom retreat, at the opposing end of this home. This allows for cross-ventilation. There are several other gizmos in the house, including the dumbwaiter adjacent to the entry.
What We Love: This exquisite modern countryside retreat is elevated on its site to take advantage of the spectacular setting that surrounds this home. Expansive windows in the main level of this home allow for a bright and airy interior while blurring indoor-outdoor boundaries.
Tell Us: What are your thoughts on the design of this home? Do you find it too modern for country living or just right? Let us know in the Comments!
Note: Have a look below for the “Related” tags for more inspiring home tours that we have featured here on One Kindesign from the portfolio of the architects of this project, Olson Kundig.
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Photos: Courtesy of Olson Kundig Architects
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