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Andrew Kotchen and Matthew Berman of workshop/apd
(212) 273-9712; www.workshopapd.com
Location: Briarcliff Manor
With sweeping views of the Hudson River as a backdrop, workshop/apd transformed a traditional 1960s ranch into a modern work of architecture. “The new home sits atop the existing foundation, with only a few minor enlargements,” says Andrew Kotchen, principal of workshop/apd, “and much of the original shape of the home, including the main gabled roof that runs over the central living areas, was retained.” Kotchen says these elements were rethought with modern materials and details and “carefully blended into the new language.” Inside, the majestic view takes over and when you stand at the living-room windows, “the ground drops away, leaving you feeling like you’re floating in the trees above the river.” The palette both inside and out is intentionally light and simple in deference to the natural beauty of the views. The blue sky and surrounding greenery pop against the subdued concrete cladding and the use of light fabrics and glass on the interior creates an inviting and relaxed atmosphere. The home has attracted the attention of local residents who stop by for a tour (sometimes unannounced) and has made the owner’s children quite popular at school.
“The whole idea of the house was to take advantage of the views of the Hudson,” says Kotchen. “Glass windows line the home on the western side, which faces the river, and the street-facing side features fewer window openings to optimize privacy.”
Carol Kurth Architecture PC + Interiors LTD
(914) 234-2595; www.carolkurtharchitects.com
Location: Bedford
Cloverhill Farm, a 21-acre Old World farmstead featuring an 8,000-square-foot home, was completely renovated and transformed into a museum-like environment complemented by a warm stone palette and a lush, verdant landscape. The front entry was redesigned to include a new portico with a landscaped terrace, the foyer was transformed into a dramatic mezzanine accentuated by a custom steel staircase, and the home’s interior spaces were opened by recessing ceiling heights and replacing columns with larger, load-bearing beams.
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Daniel Contelmo Architects
(845) 214-0802; www.dtcarchitects.com
Location: Chappaqua
“The owners of this 1930s Tudor originally approached us to design a modest renovation to improve their kitchen and open the space to the rest of the house,” says Daniel Contelmo. “Then a family-room update, a guestroom, and a bathroom were added to the project. To add charm to the classic Tudor, a stone turret was also incorporated, providing a whimsical, rustic element to the exterior. Designs were nearly complete when the owners expressed concerns about the existing below-grade garage; the driveway was so steep that they had never parked a car in it. The solution? “Fill the driveway, bury the existing garage, and construct a new three-car garage to be built on a diagonal to the existing house. The angle it created opened up the courtyard for vehicles, and made room for a connecting space that became the laundry room and mudroom, providing access to the family room, garage, and rear yard. Soon there were renovations to the main entry, sunroom, dining room, art room, and a new breakfast room, which occupies another turret.“
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The flat roof over the family room, a remnant of a 1970s renovation, was replaced with a steeply pitched roof, shifted back to allow light into the third story window. The same pitched roof covers the garage addition, but a reverse gable with paneled accents provides interest, and a carriage-house feel. Window-seat bump-outs and dormers were used to bring down the scale of the rather long façade.
