Schamus Kricorian House in New York by Specht Harpman
This spectacular home in Columbia County, New York, created by Specht Harpman is just on the perimeter of an old-growth forest. It’s situated so that it takes advantage of long valley views and the natural heating and cooling system (the treelines provide a nice windbreak).
The house demonstrates the sustainable design dictum, “Don’t build more house than you need” and incorporates many energy-saving features and materials. The main house, guest house, and pool/pool house were designed to create an informal precinct of habitation within the 100-acre site.
I just love the boat-like design with portal windows coupled with the mid-century-style roofline.
Design Team: Scott Specht, Louise Harpman
Contractor: Wolcott Builders
Engineer: Ross Dalland
Landscape Architect: Jon Piasecki
Don’t build more than you need…Everyone needs a pool house!
I have houses on the brain right now. And this one is especially spectacular.
Ali has a good point about the pool. I know about this and you’ll be interested in the backstory. When the house was to be built, no bank would provide a construction loan, as there were no recent comparable builds in the county on similar plots that weren’t more than twice the square footage of the proposed house. After much back-and-forth the appraiser agreed to approve a comp IF a pool were added — the two pool houses are actually unfinished garden sheds. Interesting how the mortgage industry worked to push more construction and cost into the project.
I’ve seen this house and the landscape design is fantastic, too.
Always good to see when good architects find good landscape designers!
It’s not just about the house!
Good architects build fantastic and unimagin houses, this is houses are really too good, happy to stay thier, thanks designers!