Best House Design

About the Resolution: 4 Architecture Mountain Retreat :
Resolution: 4 Architecture creates modular homes by combining prefabricated, factory-built, transportable “modules of use”. Custom arrangement of the basic “modules of use” creates individualized homes for clients. Winners of the 2003 Dwell Magazine Home Design Invitational.

Located on a five-acre rocky outcrop. The Mountain Retreat is a 1800 square foot stunner designed by architects Joseph Tanney and Robert Luntz of Resolution: 4 Architecture. Because the communal module is in the upper level, the Mountain Retreat is what some would call an upside-down house. It also blurs the beach house and suburban house styles to create a weekend home in New York’s Catskills.

The client, who loves mountain biking and rock climbing, had camped out on the hilltop during the siting of the house to determine the best spot, angle and orientation for his new escape. The resulting artifact is a retreat carefully crafted into its unique surroundings. The Mountain Retreat amiably provides an efficient1,800 square foot indoor and outdoor living and entertaining experience.

Throughout the house, sustainable, engineered bamboo floors were employed. Preserved with whitewash, they add a durable, yet softening touch to an already airy, open space. The predominantly light-hued interior is dramatically interrupted by dark countertops, and the dark cement panels proceed as an accent to both the inside and out.

It has three sides of glass and wrap-around decks with a loft-like communal space upstairs that contains the kitchen, dining room, and living room.
The home cost $173 a square foot. Total construction cost was $400,000 including site work, decks, septic and well.

Project details

* Project Name: The RES4 Mountain Retreat
* Project Type: Residential
* Principal Designer/s: Joseph Tanney, Robert Luntz
* Design Team: John Kim, Jacob Moore
* Contractor/s: JH Construction
* Manufacturer: Apex Homes
* Date of commencement of project: 2003
* Date of completion of project : 2005
* Location of site: Kerhonkson, New York
* Site Area: 5 acres
* Built-up Area: 1,800 sf
* Cost of Construction/Execution: $400,000