From Ridge House in Upstate New York, Worrell Yeung founders Max Worrell and Jejon Yeung share the 6 secrets architects use to create a calming retreat.
According to Worrell and Yeung, many of the 6 secrets architects use to create a calming retreat pertain to siting, apertures and materiality. At Ridge House – a project that consists of two separate structures – these secrets come heavily into play.
One of the first secrets that Worrell Yeung shares in relation to this project pertains to prioritising and celebrating the landscape through informed siting. “The main house is sited on top of the ridge nestled into the tree line, whereas the barn is nestled into the hillside,” says Worrell. Yeung adds that they “tried to maintain all the natural vegetation,” cutting down “as few trees as we could and then revegetating where we had to with native plantings”.
Another of the 6 secrets architects use to create a calming retreat draws on a restrained approach to form and materials, which allows intentional details to sing. The main house’s long gabled form is rationalised with minimal detailing and ornamentation, and its weathered grey-ish hues settle it into the landscape, harmonising it with the natural surroundings. Similarly, the barn-like structure is clad entirely in Corten steel, the patinated surface of which nods to the ever-changing, natural environment. “We really wanted the appearance of these buildings nestled in and simply sitting on the ridge line in the slopes,” says Yeung.
Inside, the architects have designed experiences informed by hospitality, creating conditions shaped by a blend of comfort, ease and luxury. Worrell and Yeung say this is an important one of the 6 secrets architects use to create a calming retreat. “Another secret we used here was being inspired by hospitality-informed experiences like a spa and bringing that into the primary bedroom suite,” says Yeung. The bedroom flows onto a large, open bathroom with a freestanding tub crafted from the same material as the floor, giving the effect of one monolithic form.
Similarly, in the open-plan living, kitchen and dining area, there is a sense of openness and ease with multiple zones for gathering and connecting. “Central to any retreat is obviously a welcoming hearth, so we designed this minimal concrete fireplace that sits central on the axis of the ridge,” says Worrell, adding that the seating beside the fireplace is intended to be “more intimate, with a continuous bench where people can sit and congregate”. It’s one of the more unexpected yet equally as persuasive 6 secrets architects use to create a calming retreat.
The success of this home lies in its embrace of the 6 secrets architects use to create a calming retreat. Alone, these elements are compelling, but together, they culminate in a home that feels inherently connected to its context, both in the snowy winter months and in the hot and humid summer.
00:00 – Introduction to the 6 Secrets Architects Use
00:36 – Taking in All Perspectives
02:07 – Finding Inspiration in the Surroundings
03:45 – Placing Restraint Through Form and Materials
05:59 – Using Multifunctional Thinking
07:19 – Creating a Spa-Like Feel to the Bedroom
08:45 – Blurring Boundaries Between Inside and Out
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This series is brought to you by Fisher & Paykel.
Photography by Rafael Gamo.
Architecture by Worrell Yeung.
Interior design by Colony.
Build by Heitmann Builders.
Landscape design by Understory Landscape Architecture.
Filmed and edited by O&Co. Homes.
Production by The Local Project.
Location: New York, United States
The Local Project acknowledges the traditional territories and homelands of the Indigenous peoples in the United States. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our respective countries and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.
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