New Private Residence II

Mahwah, New Jersey

 Working with Poskanzer Skott Architects the new house was positioned on the edge of a lake at the end of a meandering gravel driveway. The new constructions was meant to replace an existing abandoned cottage. The existing structure, which was built in the 1960’s, was demolished and the foundation was carefully preserved. The new structure was then placed on the existing foundation. Utilizing the existing foundation was a strategic decision so as to not trigger any water and other environmental set back regulation requirements. This placement would also allow the occupants of the house to enjoy expansive views of the lake in relative close proximity to the shore line.

The vision for the house was seen as a collection of small cabins strapped together by a glass rectangular gathering space. The geometry of each cabin’s form, a simple “A” frame with rectangular punched windows, harkens back to the simple aesthetics of the American frontier past. These forms are subsequently clad in vertical white board siding with standing seam metal roofs, which serves as a visual device to underscore their contemporary life. The exposed sections of the foundations are veneered in river stone taken from the site in order to establish a visual harmony with its natural surroundings. The starkness of the house’s finishes, along with its river stone plinth, serve to underscore its presence against the heavily wooded landscape.