IRIE House is named after the Jamaican term, “irie”. Used by Rastafarians, irie means to be at peace with your current state of being. Emulating “irie,” this home will be filled with curated views of the trees and the Hudson Valley. Small shifts in plan will allow this home to feel as though it is one with the forest, nestling in and amongst the surrounding woods. Our clients both work from home, and enjoy finding peaceful moments throughout their day to come together and share a coffee or a cocktail. A variety of nook spaces make this an ever-changing space – a central courtyard might be a good space for an afternoon snack, a sunken living room might feature morning coffee time, and an outdoor fireplace is the ideal space for a late night cocktail with friends. An expansive kitchen and pantry support our clients’ love of baking. Lovers of the outdoors and the fresh Hudson Valley air, our clients were interested in encouraging a promenade through the home. The main house is connected to a secondary volume that contains an artists’ studio, gym and guest suite. Further along the same axis is the garage and carport. An extended roof covers the central pathway between the three volumes, and helps to create moments of pause and centering no matter the weather. 

THE SITE

IRIE House was designed for Lot 9, one of four lots on the Upper Terraces. The elongated home floats along the edge of the eastern facing cliff, dividing program along the ridgeline while being designed around special feature trees.