Sometimes buildings scream seclusion, especially those hidden within the woods of Upstate New York. As places of refuge and tranquility, these exclusive structures are often designed with an inherent privacy, separated as they are from the frenetic atmosphere of New York City.
For example, WOJR’s Mask House, a concept for a private home in Ithaca, is a naturally dark and sheltered design practically invisible to the naked eye on a dense, foggy morning. WOJR’s incredibly realistic rendering of the home allows viewers and the client to easily imagine what it’d be like to escape inside this ethereal scene.
The Mask House is categorized as both a tree house and a memorial. Sitting atop stilts on a sloped site surrounded by trees, it overlooks a lake where, according to the architect, the client’s younger brother passed away.
The small, square building is literally masked behind a long screen or veil of thin vertical panels. This feature serves as a boundary of protection while also disguising the livable part of the house from the outside world. A long ramp leads visitors into the home from the top of the hill. The entryway is so dark it suggests visitors vanish inside.
The building is divided into a series of sanctuaries — each space furthering the idea of isolation and inviting contemplation. “The transition from everyday to the other is drawn out through a series of thresholds that define a scalar sequence of nested interiors,” explains the architect, “each interior becoming successively more removed from one world and more connected to the next.”
The main room features a hanging fireplace, small kitchenette, large window facing the lake and a bed tucked inside a gray felt wall. Ample natural light comes into the space through the wall-to-wall windows and a skylight in the bed nook.
Though the exterior structure is moody with the camouflaged façade concealed by a dark mask, the interior is bright and spacious, covered in light wood panels. Visitors also have access to the roof via a staircase, providing an alternative, outdoor space for reflection.
All images courtesy of WOJR
