Catskills Retreat

Catskills Retreat by Stanev Potts Architects is a 1,500-square-foot house set on a gentle slope of farmland in Margaretville, New York. Positioned to frame broad views of the forested hills, the design responds to the landscape and regional precedents through its siting and material choices. The brief called for an efficient program that remains connected to the scale and rhythms of the local rural context. The house is composed of two intersecting pitched-roof volumes that create a sheltered exterior zone and orient the interior towards the valley. Timber framing, wood siding, and fieldstone reflect the local building tradition, while simple interior finishes highlight these materials and construction techniques. A loft and master suite open onto a main volume anchored by a central hearth, generating a sense of openness within a compact plan. Passive strategies such as solar orientation and natural ventilation are combined with SIP construction, radiant heating, and high-efficiency systems. Local materials and contemporary building technologies support reduced energy use, recognized by Level II Energy Star Certification and a strong LEED performance.

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