EAST BRANCH HOUSE
EAST BRANCH, NEW YORK. 2015. This house for two geologists seems, in homage to their profession, to be scraping the ground near the site of an abandoned gravel pit. While north-south wing that includes bedrooms and a tower cuts off the view and sound of the road to the east, the main living area looks south across this protected zone, then over a large pond (a residue from the old gravel pit) and finally off down the valley into which the East Branch River flows. A tower houses three stories of bunks and at the top provides a small study/nest with great views up and down the valley.
The theme of geology runs through the interior spaces as well. The concrete floor was cured to allow for the minerals in the concrete to project varied colors and textures through its shimmering surface. A collection of minerals and stones is displayed in a case along the back (north) wall of the living area. More of the collection is to be included within a long cabinet running the length of bedroom wing hall.
Plan of shelf for rock display (shown above).
