Hall House synthesizes two definitions of the “hall”: a centrally located, grand gathering space and a utilitarian space that provides access to rooms. Hall House is characterized by a long, bloating hall that is simultaneously the house’s primary collective space and its single-loaded corridor. From the attenuated hall stem five main chambers—a guest bedroom, a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, another bedroom—off of which branch subsequent smaller chambers containing bathrooms, pantries, and mechanical space. The chambers are articulated sectionally as discrete boxes, and each establishes a different depth relative to the hall and distinct height relative to neighboring chambers. From the exterior, they are experienced as a series of volumes with cascading roofs.
Along with the artist studio and the garage, the house plays a role in framing a meadow on the site. On a hill overlooking the Hudson River, the long facade of Hall House is punctuated by myriad openings that engage the chambers on the opposite side of the hall. At certain moments, chamber-volumes continue perceptually through the facade; at other moments, openings on the facade frame portions of chamber-volumes, providing unexpected views through smaller openings. Hall House is comprised of an exterior layer of calico brick, and the hall and chamber are lined with custom CMU with aggregate that repeats the brick color.
Credits:
- WOJR - Adam Murfield
- SGH - Structural Engineer
- D-Render - Visualization
- WOJR - John David Todd
- WOJR - William O'Brien Jr.
- WOJR - James Murray