Clark Court | in situ studio

The house sits atop a hill, under three large oaks, and is oriented towards a pond. Our clients, a young couple with a newborn, being inspired by Modern and Japanese design, challenged us to design an open house on a prominent site that would provide privacy and create intimate connections between the interior and exterior. As designers, their sophisticated tastes allowed us to work in a productive design collaboration.

The main volume is three stories – basement; ground level entry, kitchen, and offices; upstairs bedrooms and playroom. Windows and skylights target views of the pond and forest and admit generous light. A delicate pavilion extends southwest from the main volume and onto the most private portion of the site, under three large oak trees. Here, living and dining are sheltered under a broad, thin roof supported by four small columns and the hearth. Operable glass walls open this space to the yard. The slender form of the house and thin edges belie its large size.