Set high above the Hudson Valley, the world’s most remote modern home emerges gently from the crest of a knoll, positioned to capture sweeping views across undulating meadows and towards the Catskill Mountains. Designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, the Gallatin Residence is conceived as a retreat from urban density – a country home that is honest, humble and deeply connected to its landscape.
From the first approach along a meandering driveway, glimpses of the structure appear gradually, rising from the meadow with quiet restraint. The arrival sequence is deliberate, ensuring that each visit reveals something new. Sited near the top of the hill, the house required careful excavation, with the building subtly embedded into the slope so that the land appears feathered and restored around it.
At its core, the world’s most remote modern home is about immersion in nature. The property supports native wildlife, from deer to bears and birds, reflecting the owner’s commitment to conservation and habitat restoration. Invasive species were removed, native planting reinstated and meadows allowed to regenerate, returning the land to a more authentic ecological state. The architecture responds in kind, sitting lightly and respectfully within its surrounds.
The upper level unfolds as an open pavilion, where kitchen, dining and living areas flow freely beneath a broad roof overhang. Panoramic glazing frames expansive valley views, while generous terraces extend living outward. Floating above the terrain, this level feels both elevated and exposed, celebrating the horizon and the shifting light across the mountains. In contrast, the lower level is embedded within the slope, where bedrooms are enveloped by earth and concrete, creating spaces of intimacy and retreat.
Materiality reinforces the home’s connection to place. Exposed board-formed concrete, Douglas fir and steel define the exterior, chosen for durability and their ability to weather gracefully over time. Internally, white oak floors and regional bluestone continue the natural palette, establishing cohesion between inside and out. The restrained selection of materials ensures that the landscape remains the focal point, allowing the world’s most remote modern home to feel inevitable rather than imposed.
A defining moment occurs at the hearth, where interior and exterior dissolve into one another. Here, the surrounding landscape feels drawn inward, heightening the sense of shelter without sacrificing openness. Even with panoramic outlooks, the design carefully balances exposure with protection. Concrete walls act as a backstop on one side, creating a sense of embrace and grounding the otherwise expansive pavilion.
Beyond the architecture, the experience of the world’s most remote modern home extends into trails, woodlands and open meadows. It is not only about framed views but about movement through landscape – the changing sounds of wind through trees, the presence of wildlife and the rhythm of seasons across the valley.
Through considered siting, material honesty and ecological sensitivity, the world’s most remote modern home achieves a rare equilibrium. It stands as a contemporary refuge that feels both grounded and elevated – a place of respite that belongs wholly to its environment.
00:00 – Introduction to The World’s Most Remote Modern Home
01:08 – Design Intent and Requirements
02:17 – Conserving Nature Through Design
02:49 – Walkthrough of the Home
04:02 – Key Views and Surrounding Moments
05:35 – Material Palette
06:20 – Favourite Aspects and Proud Moments
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Photography by Nic Lehoux.
Architecture, interior design and landscape design by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson.
Build by Prutting + Co.
Styling by Meagan Camp Interiors.
Filmed and edited by O&Co. Homes.
Production by The Local Production.
Location: New York, US
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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