Chatham Residence
Designed by Desai Chia Architecture, Chatham Residence takes cues from the area’s rich agricultural history, emerging as a pared-backed analogue retreat of timber and corrugate shaped by its natural ecosystem.
Set on a sprawling rural property less than three hours north of New York City, Chatham Residence is a multigenerational getaway in harmony with its fertile surrounds. Encircled by deciduous native trees, the home is shaped by the region’s Dutch farming heritage, pairing a familiar material palette with a humble commitment to stewardship.
Positioned to survey the distant Catskill Mountains, the dwelling’s form is guided by viewing corridors and seasonal patterns, creating an architecture attuned to its landscape.
Envisioned as a crafted escape from the bustle of the city, the project began with a search for the perfect country plot. Led by co-founders Katherine Chia and Arjun Desai of Desai Chia Architecture, the client’s settled on a 32-hectare parcel of rolling terrain and overland streams. “During those initial walks around the hillside, our clients spoke about their desire for a new life away from New York City,” Chia recalls. “Instead of simply envisioning a second residence limited to remote workdays or leisurely weekends, they joked that they might even raise llamas,” she adds, hinting at a broader shift in lifestyle.
Positioned to survey the distant Catskill Mountains, the dwelling’s form is guided by viewing corridors and seasonal patterns, creating an architecture attuned to its landscape. “We also considered the surrounding forest; much of the understorey was still clear, allowing tree trunks to extend skyward like columns,” Desai adds. Inspired by the form an oak leaf, the home is crowned by a sculptural roof that cinches inward, balancing light and shelter. The program is organised into three distinct blocks, anchored by an outstretched communal heart composed of soaring glazed apertures.
The external envelope offers a contemporary reimagining of the agricultural wood and metal buildings synonymous with the local vernacular. Walls and terrace soffits are sheathed in robust Accoya boards, while a corrugated aluminium band wraps the thickened edge of the curvilinear roof form. “Its sweeping geometry casts shadows that echo the natural patterns found on the forest floor,” Chia remarks. Rain scuppers punctuate the prominent upper plane, celebrating the flow of water before directing it gently to nearby gardens in support of plants, animals and pollinators.
A reductive interior focuses the senses, creating moments of calm within a warm setting. “Vaulted spaces and concealed clerestory windows amplify daylight and create immersive spatial experiences,” Desai explains. Simple materials and softened forms sit quietly within this abundant setting, fostering connection, comfort and a slowed daily rhythm. The threshold between inside and out gradually dissolves into verdant pockets of undergrowth. Underfoot, hand-hewn terrace floors made from reclaimed granite kerbs trace the sculpted eave line above, interspersed with rocky mounds, ferns and birch trees. Further afield, a translucent greenhouse and barn enforce the clients’ newfound devotion to rural life through a cluster of kindred ancillary structures.
An ecological haven for a couple and their three grown children, Chatham Residence is a place deeply immersed in its abundant surroundings. Perched on an elevated clearing, the subdued architecture melds past and present, forming a modern rural retreat that opens outward into tranquillity while honouring the life around it.
