This glass-enclosed bunkhouse was designed by Studio MM Architect, located in Olivebridge, a hamlet in the town of Olive, Ulster County, New York, within Catskill Park and the Catskill Mountains. The bunkhouse sits at the edge of the mountaintop clearing. It is close enough to the main home to feel connected, but far enough that guests retain a sense of privacy.
Perched at the edge of a cliff above a steep slope, the bunkhouse is a companion structure that echoes the main home’s material language while offering a distinct spatial experience. The concept is simple – a glass box framed by thin fascia and grounded by a solid mass housing private bathing and changing spaces. Floor-to-ceiling windows immerse occupants in the surrounding woods, reinforcing the “house among the trees” sensibility.
DESIGN DETAILS
ARCHITECT Studio MM Architect
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT Studio MM Architect
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING TYLin Group
BUNKHOUSE MILLWORK Vernacular Design Co.
Jewel Box Approach
A central volume within the glass enclosure houses four twin-size bunks, a primary bed, and a kitchenette. Utilized by visiting family, clients, and the studio’s team members, the bunkhouse needed to maximize both privacy and capacity. Each sleeping nook orients in its own direction, allowing guests to sleep separately without sacrificing personal space. The result feels both communal and comfortably individual.
Thoughtful Details
The windows of the Bunkhouse extend beyond the ceiling, drawing your eye upwards. The thin roofline floats above the windows, creating a lighter profile for the exterior of the Bunkhouse and accentuating the glass jewel box effect. A hidden lighting cove casts a warm glow around the space and continues to draw the eye upwards in the evenings. A wood burning stove provides supplemental heat, while mechanicals are neatly tucked away within the jewel box core.
Warm white oak wraps the bunks, creating cozy spaces that are comfortable and inviting. Supplemental furniture is minimal – the bunk adjacent to the wood stove can double as a “couch” if left uninhabited. Black accents in the windows and fascia are carried to the interior columns, the black stone countertops, and reveal details in the bunk volume. Integrated lights, outlets, and cubbies in each bunk add critical functionality for guests.
What We Love About This Bunkhouse
This glass bunkhouse in the Catskill Mountains immerses guests in the surrounding forest, with walls of glass that bring the lush greenery indoors. The modern design allows for an intimate connection with nature, making every room feel bright, serene, and peaceful. It’s a quiet, immersive retreat where contemporary comfort meets the beauty of the forest canopy.
Tell Us: Would you like to be an overnight guest in this glass-enclosed bunkhouse? Let us know in the Comments below!
Note: Check out a couple of other stunning home tours that we have showcased here on One Kindesign in the state of New York: Inviting timber frame house tucked into a serene forest in the Catskills and A modernist woodland retreat perched over the serene Hudson Valley.
Design for Year-Round Living
The glass walls of the Bunkhouse reflect the changing seasons and create a true “treehouse” feeling from the interior!
PHOTOGRAPHER Brad Feinknopf
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