Framing Nature

Windows let fresh air course throughout the living room.
Framing Nature
A New York home hovers over the Hudson River.

Built on a hillside in the idyllic village of Croton-on-Hudson in Westchester County, New York, a decidedly modern home rests on 9-foot-high steel columns that raise it in the air. It appears to hover above its surroundings, providing its inhabitants with a picturesque panorama of the Hudson River, a favorite subject of 19th-century landscape painters.

“We have this absolutely amazing view of the river to the west, so the intention was to capture as much of it as we possibly could,” says Rob Luntz, founder of Resolution: 4 Architecture (RES4).

“We have this absolutely amazing view of the river to the west, so the intention was to capture as much of it as we possibly could.” Rob Luntz, Resolution: 4 Architecture

An open floor plan on the main level combines the dining, kitchen, and living areas into one space.
An open floor plan on the main level combines the dining, kitchen, and living areas into one space.

To best display the surrounding nature show, Luntz utilized massive glass throughout the home, including windows across the façade. Clerestory windows along the front let in natural light while providing privacy from the drive.

The house, clad in metal siding and Brazilian walnut wood, is the vacation home of a couple looking to escape the bustle of Manhattan. The innovative design uses the home’s 2,400 square feet of space wisely, resulting in an elongated building that stretches along the river, providing an expansive view from every room.

On the ground level, a floor-to-ceiling hinged door opens to a wooden deck with a rectangular pool overlooking the woodsy vista.

“There was a great emphasis on opening up the house as much as possible with the large glass openings.” Rob Luntz, Resolution: 4 Architecture

The home rests on 9-foot-high steel columns, providing its inhabitants with a panoramic view of the Hudson River.
The home rests on 9-foot-high steel columns, providing its inhabitants with a panoramic view of the Hudson River.

An open floor plan on the main level combines the dining, kitchen, and living areas into one space that seamlessly flows into a covered exterior balcony deck when the multi-slide doors are open. Glass fencing preserves the uninterrupted views while a Baltic concrete fire table keeps the deck cozy in colder months.

Sliding patio doors provide a seamless transition from the inside to the outdoor deck.
Sliding patio doors provide a seamless transition from the inside to the outdoor deck.

“It’s a great place to gather, and this indoor-outdoor living that you get, even though you’re elevated up in the air, is one of my favorite elements of the house,” Luntz says.

Low-E, argon-filled glass panes limit solar gain to keep the house comfortable during warmer weather. With operable windows and sliding glass doors, the entire house enjoys a natural cooling effect from the river breezes, and every room boasts copious amounts of cross-ventilation.

“We were impressed by the thinness of the profiles and the lightness of the windows that you get from Western Window Systems.” Rob Luntz, Resolution: 4 Architecture

Glass fencing preserves the uninterrupted views while a concrete fire table keeps the deck cozy.
Glass fencing preserves the uninterrupted views while a concrete fire table keeps the deck cozy.

“There was a great emphasis on opening up the house as much as possible with the large glass openings. It’s quite beautiful,” Luntz says, adding that the sunsets and light shows over the river are particularly dramatic after storms.

The clean sightlines, narrow profiles, and functionality of Western Window Systems products gave Luntz and his clients exactly what they wanted. “We were impressed by the thinness of the profiles and the lightness of the windows that you get from Western Window Systems and how well they work, especially the sliders,” Luntz says. “And the pricing was competitive.”

Dealer: Ideal Fenestration

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