Blue Rock House | Anmahian Winton Architects

The Blue Rock house is an ensemble of buildings whose form and arrangement suggest a minimalist dairy barn. Buildings are organized so the owners can comfortably inhabit them as a small family, or as a large group of extended family and friends.

The buildings are set into the bedrock and high shoulder of the property to varying degrees, allowing the land to protect the compound from extreme weather. Bluestone walls weave between architecture and landscape, establishing geometric order and creating a protective courtyard.

The hilltop site’s exposure, with expansive views of the Catskill and Berkshire mountains, maximizes the benefits of the compound’s passive solar orientation. The project employs sustainable systems to conserve energy and water: geothermal wells for heating and cooling the buildings and pool; wind turbines to offset electricity use; reclaimed, recycled, and rapidly renewable materials; and pond restoration for new habitat and irrigation.