Tied into the Geographical and Cultural Context
Camp O is a family house and studio at 774m altitude in the forested Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. Designed by architect Maria Milans del Bosch to tie into its geographical and cultural context, it talks to all senses as nature informs the experience inside the house and reinterprets the vernacular architecture of local barns, houses and cabins. Its concrete foundation, wood facades, plywood sheathing, wood stud walls, beams and joists and metal roof are assembled and organized with minimum detailing and require minimum maintenance.
The two-story, four-bedroom building rises from an existing clearing on a sloping site. The narrow volume has a 7.3m x 17.7m footprint. The volume is divided longitudinally into two sections, whose roofs are pitched in opposite directions. The roof ridges are on the East and West walls of the house, efficiently opening views to the valley and woods, and maximizing sunlight and ventilation in the interior of the house. A double height space contains living, dining, open kitchen and a studio. Alternate spans of 1.2m define the location of doors and windows and a rhythm of 1.2m and 2.4m guides the placing of interior partitions, floor layout, shelving, lighting, etc., resulting in a harmonic overall volume and simpler construction. To address drastic temperature swings and strong North-South winds, and to maximize interior comfort and minimize energy consumption, openings are placed on the East and West facades achieving cross ventilation and optimal sunlight.
The insulating charred cedar facades are treated with “Shou Sugi Ban”, a Japanese wood-charring technique that protects cedar from water, fire and insects. The wood acquires an iridescent texture reflecting the light and colors through all seasons, and its weathering creates resonance with the surrounding landscape. The kitchen, second story floors and all three bathrooms’ surfaces are covered with Viroc, a composite of cement and wood fiber, making the most out of the house’s radiant floor system and wet rooms.
Camp O’s dialogue between the stereotomic (cutting into a solid volume) and the tectonic (changing volume by addition), together with its haptic or tactile qualities, transcend the mere appearance of the technical. It generates an experience that varies with the changes in light, leafiness and forest’s colors.
Project: Camp O: Contemporary Vernacular House & Studio in the Catskills, NY / Location: Catskills, New York, USA / Architect: Maria Milans Studio, LLC, María Milans del Bosch / Project team: Jocelyn Froimovich / Structural engineering: LIA Engineering, LLC, Luke Amey / Sustainability consultant: I + I Studio, Ignacio Medina e Isabel Silvestre / Floor area: 205m2 / Completion: 2018.10 / Photograph: Montse Zamorano
