FLY Modern
Private Residence
Hudson Valley, NY
Completed: 2019
Design Team:
Marica McKeel
Ben Feiger
Marisa Kaugars
Photography: Brad Feinknopf
Builder: Heitmann Builders
A healing sanctuary in the Hudson Valley, FLY Modern is designed around a soaring, double-height aerial studio.
A move from the city and simultaneous recovery from a severe immune illness was the impetus for FLY Modern’s design and construction. The clients, young urbanites relocating out of New York City, decided to drastically change their environment and lifestyle after one of them was suddenly affected by a serious and nearly fatal health battle.
Once health conditions stabilized, the clients decided to make New York’s scenic Hudson Valley the site of their full-time relocation. In relocating geographically, they took the move as an opportunity to reset mentally, with a new focus on living simply and minimally.
In addition to addressing a very unique set of needs, the home also had to be modest in size, mindful of a fixed budget, and flexible enough to grow with the clients for years to come. Despite sitting on four acres of land, the home was challenged by a tight building site, which heavily restricted placement and orientation. Also impacted by a nearby mountain road on one side, exposure on the “road side” was limited for privacy, while sightlines were opened up on the opposing side, capturing scenic and private views of a tranquil pond and mountains beyond.
The design and programming of the one-bedroom dwelling was planned around an unconventional locus – a twenty-eight foot aerial studio. The studio, complete with ceiling-mounted trapeze, starts on the main level of the home and climbs to the second floor, the verticality of the space emphasized by impactful floor-to-ceiling windows. The central studio is as much about health as it is about creative expression. As physical inversion is known to clear lymph nodes and promote circulation, the trapeze is designed to encourage internal recovery and healing. Movement on the trapeze is intimately connected to the outdoors, with serene views adding to the restorative experience – physically and emotionally – of the studio.
On the opposite side of the home, the two-story living volume counterbalances the studio’s height and massing. Open to the kitchen, the first floor living room features panoramic views overlooking the pond, enjoyed from a cozy window bench by both the clients and their beloved cat. Between the studio and living areas, a cantilevered balcony emerges on the second floor, anchoring and connecting the two wings. The elevated balcony offers distant views of Mount Beacon and Scofield Ridge, and provides an inspiring place for meditating, sharing open air meals, and enjoying spectacular sunsets.
In living simply and re-centering priorities, the young couple’s new home represents a fresh start and a place to heal. Taking a step back from city life, FLY Modern encourages the clients’ new focus on health and purity of environment, all while fostering a deep appreciation for the splendor of their idyllic surroundings.
