SILVER HOLLOW RD HOUSE

Location| Chichester, NY USA

Nestled within the hillside, overlooking Warner Creek, Silver Hollow Road House is designed as a contemplative retreat for a middle-aged couple seeking peace and tranquillity in nature. The house also serves as a welcoming getaway for their adult children and visiting friends, offering a perfect balance of seclusion and openness to the surrounding forested landscape.

The home is positioned within the hillside adjacent to Warner Creek, with unobstructed views to the creek and established forest woodland that covers the site. Designed as a sanctuary, it provides both intimate spaces for the owners and generous accommodations for guests. The open, nature-filled views create an ever-changing backdrop to the main living and sleeping areas, inviting the landscape inside.

Silver Hollow Rd House integrates several sustainable design strategies, reflecting a commitment to both environmental stewardship and comfort. Key features include:

• Passive House/Optimal location for natural lighting and geothermal sun absorption.
• Wildfire Sprinkler System + Refuge
• Radiant floor heating/HVAC for energy-efficient warmth
• Natural ventilation that supports passive cooling (East to west)
• Motorized solar shades to manage solar gain
• Rainwater harvesting for irrigation and onsite water treatment
• An elegant structural design that balances functionality and aesthetic beauty.

The home comprises a master bedroom and two self-contained studio suites, each with its own open-plan living arrangement. The main living areas—living room, dining room, and kitchen—are suspended from a central modular core, which houses the functional elements of the residence, including the kitchens, bathrooms, laundry, storage, and wardrobes. This core also facilitates access to the house, connecting all levels and serving as the central circulation hub.

The modular core further accommodates shared amenities, including a video conference room, library, sauna, and an atrium. The atrium serves as a key connector, linking the primary living areas with the studios and providing access to the sauna from the western exterior deck. This deck is a central feature of the home, offering a direct connection to the hot tub/sauna, outdoor shower, and the studios, while also linking the living areas to the creek below.

An eastern entry deck provides access to the future farm and creates an inviting outdoor space for dining and cooking during warmer months.

The living spaces are connected by organic timber decks that wind through and around mature trees, creating a seamless flow between the residence and the site surrounds. These decks are designed to enhance the outdoor living experience, offering space for cooking, dining, and relaxation. They also provide easy access to the sauna, hot tub, and exterior shower, as well as linking the studios, main living area, and access to the creek.

The main living area opens onto both the eastern and western decks, each offering distinct purposes. The eastern deck is designed for grilling and cooking, while the western deck connects to the sauna, hot tub, and outdoor shower, providing an inviting retreat space. The decks are thoughtfully integrated with the landscape, allowing the home to coexist naturally with its surroundings.

The two self-contained studio suites are designed as open-plan spaces, each with a queen-sized bed, built-in Warner beds, a kitchenette, open wardrobe/storage, and a private bathroom. These studios offer comfortable accommodations for an additional 8 overnight guests. The studios are connected by a large deck that meanders through the trees, linking the residences with the creek and creating a peaceful transition between the built environment and nature.

The residence is equipped with a range of amenities designed for relaxation, entertainment, and wellness. A cozy open fireplace, expansive lounge and dining area provide space for gathering and entertaining guests. There is also a video/podcast room for remote work or creative endeavours. The sauna, hot tub, and exterior shower provide spa-like experiences, while the atrium serves as a focal point where the site is connected with the structure reconnecting guest using the sauna + outdoor amenity with the surrounding environment.

The house's structural framework is based on a modular spine adapted from recycled shipping containers, which are embedded into the landscape. Cantilevered glazed structures are suspended from this core using a combination of structural steel and hempcrete slabs, which are reinforced by horizontal steel beams. Concealed tensegrity cables provide additional support, enhancing the building’s sense of lightness and integration with the site.

The free-floating glazing system allows natural light to penetrate deep into the interior during the day, while at night, the illuminated wood core casts a warm and inviting glow, creating a beacon of comfort amid the surrounding forest.

The façade is composed of high-performance, double-paned glass units ranging in width from 4 to 10 feet. Reclaimed Douglas fir timber clads the structure, grounding the house in its natural surroundings. The design incorporates roof gardens that not only enhance the integration of the house with the hillside but also conceal it from Silver Hollow Road, which runs parallel to the site. The use of Corten steel retaining walls for the landscaped areas gives the property a natural, aged aesthetic that blends seamlessly with the environment.

The landscape design is closely tied to the house’s architecture. The roof gardens help soften the structure’s visual impact, creating a seamless transition between the built environment and the natural surroundings. Native vegetation has been carefully selected to highlight the vistas and natural features of the property, while also managing stormwater runoff. Local stone and shale, excavated from the site, have been used to create the pathways and landscaped stairs that connect the house to the creek below.

Silver Hollow Rd House exemplifies the harmony between architectural design, sustainability, and nature. Through its integration into the hillside, thoughtful use of materials, and sustainable systems, the house provides a serene and timeless retreat that blends seamlessly into its forested environment. Its design encourages reflection, relaxation, and connection with both the natural world and the people who visit.