new york's wild forest bursts into residence's glass living room by studio mm

studio MM’s ‘Kaat Cliffs’ merges with Kaaterskill Wild Forest

Studio MM designs and constructs ‘Kaat Cliffs’, a modest home located on a double-sided rocky site nestled at the base of the Kaaterskill Wild Forest in New York. With towering cliffs on the rear side and expansive views of the Hudson Valley opening up to the east, dual opportunities for landscapes informed the design and materiality of the getaway in Saugerties. The project draws reference from Philip Johnson’s Glass House, forming large floor-to-ceiling glass expanses as the defining feature of the central living space. The open layout fills in with natural sunlight through the glazed partitions.

The approach of the design is deceptively simple, maintaining the element of openness and surprise through the centerpiece of the central glass living space. Dark wood cladding blends the home into the surrounding trees, and screening details create additional privacy. The main entry features a large stucco volume that houses wood storage and grounds an entryway that mimics the living area, with floor-to-ceiling glass to both the east and west. To the right of the main entry is a modest main bedroom suite.

all images by Brad Feinknopf

wooden textures and vivid accents adorn THE interior

The common zone arranges a large, functional kitchen with lots of storage space along with an expansive island and warm seating space. Sliding glass doors open both sides to the outdoors, offering views from the cliff face out to the Hudson Valley. The public portion of the home separates the guest suites from the main bedroom. While the focal point of the project remains the indoor-outdoor connection between the built form and the surrounding forest landscape, the design team at Studio MM, also, focuses on distributing a sense of warmth and coziness throughout the interior.

A bold touch of personality is injected into the home via an all-red main bathroom, while elegant built-ins create plenty of storage space in the closet. Wood soffits and decks on the exterior and a central interior fireplace bring warmth to the space. The rear wall of the kitchen features all-white cabinetry, while the central island showcases a rich gray stone countertop with waterfall edges accented by white oak. The polished concrete floor ties together the dark and light accents. On the far side of the home, a modest office creates a focused work retreat. A guest bedroom fills out the final part of the home along with a second colorful bathroom.

the structure forms large floor-to-ceiling glass expanses in the central living space

minimal exterior face mimics the surrounding trees

The exterior of the home takes advantage of the surrounding landscape, with minimal added plantings and paving. An exterior fire pit forms a cozy lounge space taking full advantage of cliff-face views. A deeply personal sense of home is imbued into the project throughout. Family and local artisans contribute to the construction process bringing even more heart into the project. The stucco entry volume is hand-troweled by the client’s sister and layouts and material selection in the home are guided by the client’s aunt. The unique dining room table, designed in collaboration with furniture maker Braxton Alexander, holds a focal point of the main living space. A handcrafted hook for a contemporary light fixture in the main bath is crafted by a member of Studio MM, and handmade Moroccan clay tiles are used in both of the playful bathrooms. Balancing transparency and opacity while highlighting two distinct views, ‘Kaat Cliffs’ connects with nature and forms a peaceful retreat.

the project focuses on the indoor-outdoor connection between the built form and the surrounding forest

dark wood cladding blends the home into the surrounding trees

sliding glass doors open both sides to the outdoors, offering views from the cliff face out to the valley

the main entry features a large stucco volume that houses wood storage

the central island showcases a rich gray stone countertop with waterfall edges accented by white oak

the polished concrete floor ties together the dark and light accents and wooden textures

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project info:

name: Kaat Cliffs
designer: Studio MM Architect | @studiommarchitect

design team: Marica Mckeel, Gina Kim, Eric Hart

location: Saugerties, New York, US

photography: Brad Feinknopf | @feinknopf – Feinknopf Studio | @feinknopfstudio