Dean / Wolf Architects

Ephemeral Edge

Ephemeral Edge
© Paul Warchol

EPHEMERAL EDGE

Dean-Wolf Architects

LEAD ARCHITECT
Kathryn Dean

ENGINEERING
Hage Engineering

MANUFACTURERS 
Dornbracht, Lutron, B&B Italia, Benjamin Moore, Duravit, Flos, Grohe, Miele, Sherwin-Williams, Subzero/Wolf, ADM Sink, AMD Grating, Anzor, Benson Steel, Blu Bathworks, Bosch, Colonial Bronze, Custom Table, DLine, DaVinci Collection, DuraVent, Duratherm, E&T Plastics, EnviroCept Companies, FSB Franz Schneider Brakel, GP Wood, Housatonic Hardwoods, Ingo Maurer, LINEA, La Canache, Latoscana, Maloya Laser, Minka Aire, NEWPORT BRASS, Rohl, Simpson Strong Tie, SlantFin, Stone Source, Supreme Fireplace, Tnemec, Viracon, Zephyr

PROJECT TEAM
Zachary Rousou

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
Crawford & Associates

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Reed Hilderbrand

LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR
Webster Landscapes

ASSOCIATE PARTNER
Chris Kroner

TECHNICAL CONSULTANT
Charles Wolf

PHOTOGRAPHS
Paul Warchol

AREA
2000 ft²

YEAR
2017

LOACTION
Austerlitz, United States

CATEGORY
Houses

Text description provided by architect.

Ephemeral Edge is a weekend retreat and retirement home located three hours north of New York City.

Ephemeral Edge
© Paul Warchol
Ephemeral Edge
© Paul Warchol

As a retreat, the goal of the project was to contrasts the rapid sense of time and pressure of the city and extend the enjoyment and sensuousness of the everyday passage of time that is often highlighted in the open landscape.

The sense of extended time is accomplished by taking advantage of the site—a forested hillside which contains a constructed pond and overlooks a distant view.

Ephemeral Edge
© Paul Warchol
Ephemeral Edge
© Paul Warchol

The design is informed by four site conditions: the curving edge of the pond, the torqued banks necessary to construct the pond, the spindly edge of the forest clearing, and the quiet beauty of the distant view.

The pond reflects the ephemeral aspects of living here—the changing light across its’ surface and the daily and seasonal fluctuations of temperature.

The sweep of the pond’s edge joins seamlessly with the dynamic curvilinear roof and deck drawing these qualities inside the house.

Ephemeral Edge
© Paul Warchol
Ephemeral Edge
© Paul Warchol
Ephemeral Edge
© Paul Warchol

The twisted form of the house responds to the torqued banks of the pond, required to construct flatness on a hillside. The roof/wall completes the twist between lower filled bank and upper carved bank.

The delicate forest edge informs structure. Rebar emerges from three foundation walls as trunks and branches that float the house over the water.

Ephemeral Edge
© Paul Warchol
Ephemeral Edge
© Paul Warchol
Ephemeral Edge
© Paul Warchol

The radial plan of structure and skylights follows the sun—sequentially filling the intimate spaces of the house with the light and shadow of the forest. The pond and the distant view are always present in the house.

At the entry, where the dining space aligns with the distant view, doors open through the house, joining the intimate table to the larger landscape.

Ephemeral Edge
© Paul Warchol


Ephemeral Edge
© Paul Warchol
Ephemeral Edge
© Paul Warchol
Ephemeral Edge
© Paul Warchol
Ephemeral Edge
© Paul Warchol
Ephemeral Edge
© Paul Warchol


Ephemeral Edge
Plan

Ephemeral Edge
Surface diagram


Ephemeral Edge
Section
Ephemeral Edge
Section
Ephemeral Edge
Section
Ephemeral Edge
Wall branches


Ephemeral Edge
foundations
Ephemeral Edge
Siteplan
Ephemeral Edge
Structural diagram

Dean / Wolf Architects
T +1 212 3851170
Dean / Wolf Architects
40 Hudson St # 6, New York, NY 10013, United States