Explore the live-work residence of furniture gallerist, designed by Steven Holl, located in upstate New York.
In the picturesque town of Rhinebeck, New York, a modern architectural gem named the L-House stands out. Commissioned by art dealer Mark McDonald and his partner Dwayne Resnick, the house was designed by renowned architect Steven Holl.
The L-House, a modest 1,700 sq ft structure, is an integral part of the urban grid. Its unique design, inspired by the luminist paintings of the 19th-century Hudson River School, features an 'L' shape with the inner sides painted a soft cerulean green, the outer facades white, and the underside of the projecting canopies pale blue.
The open-plan interior is lined with soft-toned birch ply, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The space serves as an office, library, and showcase for pieces that McDonald and Resnick want to sell. A pine staircase ascends from the dining area, leading to the mezzanine bedroom and bathroom.
One of the standout features of the L-House is its innovative use of energy. An invisible geothermal well delivers almost all the power needed for under-floor radiant heating and cooling. This eco-friendly approach is a testament to Holl's commitment to sustainable design.
Natural light floods the L-House from above and from windows on four sides, creating a bright and airy space. The roof slopes down over the double-height living room to a single-storey studio, offering a stunning view of the surrounding landscape. A powder room projects from the inner angle of the L-House, like a hinge between the two strokes.
The L-House also boasts some unique and historic design elements. For instance, the outdoor lighting fixture in the reflecting pool was salvaged from a 1912 Wright house in Minnesota. Additionally, a custom-designed lighting sconce, which Holl designed for a New York apartment in 1983, is now installed over the staircase in the L-House.
Mark McDonald, known as the godfather of midcentury modern design, first made a name for himself with his gallery, Fifty/50, which opened in downtown Manhattan in 1983. This gallery jump-started the market for vintage furniture by Marcel Breuer, Alvar Aalto, the Eameses, and their contemporaries.
Twenty years later, McDonald relocated to the upstate New York town of Hudson. Here, he discovered the vacant plot behind his store, which would eventually become the site of the L-House. Today, renting the L-House on Steven Holl's Rhinebeck estate allows visitors to experience Holl's larger projects and immerse themselves in the world of midcentury modern design.
A catwalk leads to a pop-up roof lantern in the L-House, offering a view of the sun setting over the Catskills. This unique feature, along with the house's eco-friendly design and historic design elements, make the L-House a must-visit destination for architecture enthusiasts.
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