House Design: A Blend of Nature and Comfort

Designed by Worrell Yeung, this New York retreat masterfully integrates raw materials, panoramic views, and functional elegance.

A Seamless Open-Concept Living Space

Inside Ridge House, the primary living area unites the kitchen, dining zone, and lounge into a single, fluid volume. A soaring 20-foot gabled ceiling amplifies the sense of openness, while untreated concrete anchors both ends of the space flanked by a sculptural kitchen island on one side and a minimalist fireplace on the other. Expansive 30-foot glass spans frame uninterrupted views of the Catskill and Taconic ranges, dissolving boundaries between interior and exterior. Twin gable-shaped light fixtures cast a warm glow over a handcrafted wooden dining table by Bien Hecho, adding rhythmic architectural detail.

Ridge House blends clean gabled architecture with corrugated metal and board-formed concrete, creating a striking yet natural presence that weathers gracefully within its wooded ridgeline setting.

Material Poetry: Concrete, Corten Steel, and Untamed Nature

The home’s exterior, clad in corrugated metal and board-formed concrete, mirrors the rugged agricultural terrain of Columbia County, New York. Designed to weather gracefully, these materials develop a natural patina over time, echoing the surrounding forest. The absence of a traditional front door reinforces the connection to the landscape; visitors enter via a transitional concrete passage that divides the home into social and private wings.

Private Quarters: Serenity and Connection

The bedroom wing, accessible through a long corridor lined with white oak, offers a tranquil escape. The primary suite features three large square windows and a freestanding concrete bathtub positioned before a west-facing pane, inviting the Catskills into the bathing experience. Minimalist hardware and muted finishes maintain the home’s restrained aesthetic.

The primary bedroom and ensuite bathroom is a tranquil retreat featuring a custom concrete bathtub positioned in front of a large window, creating a seamless connection to the natural surroundings.

Ridge Barn: A Rustic Counterpoint

Inspired by regional “bank barns,” the Corten steel-clad structure appears to emerge from the hillside. The lower level houses a garage, bike workshop, and wine cellar, while the upper floor includes a breezeway framing Taconic Mountain vistas, a fitness studio, and a bunkhouse with custom gabled lighting. A stone path by landscape architect Jeffrey Longhenry evokes land art, guiding visitors on a sculptural journey between buildings.

Ridge Barn stands nestled into the hillside clad in weathering corten steel, its design inspired by traditional bank barns and shaped to evolve beautifully with time and the landscape.

The Pool: A Natural Extension

Partially embedded into the slope, the pool blends seamlessly with the terrain. Corten steel walls and stone decking visually tether it to the barn, creating a meditative aquatic space that feels organic rather than imposed.

The pool sits partially embedded in the slope, surrounded by weathered corten walls and natural stone pavers, blending effortlessly into the landscape for a serene swimming experience.

Floor Plans & Collaborative Team

Site Plan: Highlights the symbiotic relationship between house, barn, and landscape.
Ridge House Floor Plan: Demonstrates the efficient division of public/private zones.
Ridge Barn Floor Plan: Reveals multifunctional spaces for guests and recreation.

The living room features soaring 20-foot ceilings and expansive glass walls, offering uninterrupted mountain views and a warm atmosphere anchored by a raw concrete fireplace.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

Worrell Yeung’s Ridge House and Barn exemplify how modern architecture can honor rural contexts through material honesty and spatial poetry. The project’s strength lies in its unwavering commitment to raw, weathering materials and panoramic transparency, though the repetition of design elements like the twin gables risks feeling overly thematic rather than organic. Despite this, the retreat’s true brilliance emerges in its subtle details: the bathtub framed by mountain views, the Corten steel’s evolving patina, and the land-art-inspired path that transforms a simple walk into a sensory experience. Here, architecture doesn’t dominate the landscape it converses with it.

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