New York-based Desai Chia Architecture has completed the Stanfordville House, a striking residential project in Upstate New York that draws inspiration from traditional farm buildings while incorporating modern design elements. The 3,555-square-foot home sits on a 50-acre reclaimed farm property, positioned just beyond the crest of a hill in the rural hamlet of Stanfordville, an area characterized by rolling hills dotted with barns, trees, and wildflowers.
The architects conceived the project as "an architectural bridge between its agricultural context and modern family life," creating a holiday home that serves as a welcoming space for guests and extended family. The design process incorporated guidance from a feng shui master whom the clients consulted early in the project to provide siting parameters for the house. Following this guidance, the home maintains a strong north-south organization and is oriented to align with particular structures on a distant hill.
The main house features an L-shaped configuration composed of one long and one short volume, totaling 3,555 square feet, complemented by a freestanding 690-square-foot garage. The exterior showcases a sophisticated mix of materials including wood, concrete, and glass. The upper portions of the facades are clad in blackened cedar that has been charred using the traditional Japanese technique known as Shou Sugi Ban, while lower areas feature accoya wood with a light-grey finish that matches the angled, cast-in-place concrete panels supporting shade structures over the patios.
The home's sculptural roofscape creates visual interest and serves functional purposes. The long volume is topped with two shed roofs featuring opposing slopes, while the other volumes have flat roofs. To manage rainwater effectively, the architects incorporated exposed scuppers and downspouts that "express and celebrate functional, architectural details." This low-tech yet effective water management system serves as one of several visual cues that reference the agricultural context of the surrounding area.
Inside, the home features light-filled rooms with vaulted ceilings and a restrained color palette designed to feel inviting and spacious. The ground level houses a guest area, an office, and an open-concept kitchen, dining space, and living room, along with the detached garage. The main social area opens toward a covered terrace and swimming pool, creating seamless indoor-outdoor living. The upper level contains two bedrooms and a laundry room, with large windows offering framed views of the undulating landscape.
The landscape design plays a crucial role in the overall project, with the exterior concrete panels angled specifically to direct views toward the surrounding scenery. The architects revegetated the site with native grasses and wildflowers to support the local ecosystem of pollinators, providing a softness that contrasts with what the team describes as the home's "crisp silhouettes." A swimming pool was strategically placed in the expansive yard to complement the outdoor living spaces.
This project represents another successful residential design by Desai Chia Architecture, joining their portfolio of notable works including a weekend retreat for gallery owners in Connecticut featuring courtyards for exhibiting artwork, and a black gabled house in Upstate New York that merges barn design with contemporary sensibility. The Stanfordville House demonstrates the firm's ability to create architecture that respects regional vernacular while meeting the needs of modern family life, photographically documented by Paul Warhol.
