ROCKLAND COUNTY RANCH

The Rockland County Ranch was built as a family compound for quick weekend getaways within an hour of New York city. The property, which has been in the client's family for many years, has been surrounded over time by suburban development. Part of being a good house is being a good neighbor; one of the goals for the Rockland Ranch was to mask its large scale to help integrate it with the surrounding houses.

By carving the auto court into the side of the elevated property and tucking the garage under the screened barn, what might have been a massive attached garage structure appears to be more akin to a stone retaining wall. Through the use of broken roof lines, the house is divided into several distinct parts reducing the overall visual impact on the neighborhood. The interior of the property is embraced by a three sided court yard, with each side providing a distinct function. The main wing sits behind a deep porch on one side, the guest wing is nestled into a stand of trees on the other. The connecting structure is a large barn like screened room that serves as a three season entertaining space. This screened room presides over the inner court glowing warmly on summer evenings.