Barbell House
Barbell House sought a minimal palette from the beginning, in both its structure and its aesthetic. Our clients, the interior designer Karolina Bell and her family, were living in Zurich during the early stages of the design process and were eager to bring facets of European and Scandinavian style to the Northeast. Looking for land close to New York City, our studio helped the couple locate property tucked in the charming woodlands of Huntington, Long Island.
Named after its physical form, Barbell House was designed as a bar scheme which reduced material waste and construction cost. The home serves as a new, environmentally conscious image of American living in a traditional town.
MAXIMIZE VIEWS
The modestly-sized home has minimal impact on the private one-acre woodland
property. This allows the whole rear of the home to look out upon the tall tree-line and offer a feeling of
seclusion just an hour ride from New York City.
MINIMAL STRUCTURE
A simple "bar scheme" provides the ability for a minimal framing solution
reducing any need for steel in the project, which significantly reduces building costs and environmental
impact.
The homeowner, owner of interior design and material sourcing company, Bien Etre, had an exciting vision for a home that brought together cherished memories from their travels around the globe. Our design team worked closely to design a home that showcased her exceptional aesthetic in a highly efficient and functional form.
The paths through the home guide the family and their visitors along the perimeter of the first floor while creating visual rhythms and framing views with carefully calibrated window placement. Arcades of fully glazed windows illuminate the center of its bar-structure and welcome light into the home’s main gathering space. Here, a dramatic linear fireplace creates a focal point for the main seating and dining areas.
The entire house is designed around a simple 2’x2’ grid. Located in the perfect center of the floor plan is the dramatic kitchen island which reinforces the idea that the communal kitchen is the heart of the home.
The monolithic, Ceppo di Gré limestone island is surrounded by matte lacquered cabinetry and an elongated white oak dining room table, fit to comfortably seat 14 people. The stone structure of the island shrouds an active side of the kitchen, inviting visitors to gather in the heart of the home.
Oversized sliding glass doors dismantle the divide from outdoor and indoor living, cultivating a fluid gateway from the main gathering space to an elegant, inground pool. The oversized sliding doors draw the family to dwell in outdoor areas curated to match the home’s interior style. Both inside and outside of the home, the black framing of the windows provide contrast from the otherwise minimal material palette. Similarly, the home’s exterior cedar ribbon poses as a cohesive, warm element that ties the first and second floors together. The contrast of the window frames and the cedar ribbon allow the language between the interior and exterior to remain consistent.
The homeowner’s appreciation for subtle organic textures led her to source a series of stunning natural materials which were incorporated around the home. While each area feels unique, a constant muted mood drifts throughout the stone, wood, and microcement. Soft cement floors and dark faucets in the primary bathroom feel consistent with even the dark palette found in the secondary bedroom.
A linear rhythm can also be found in many areas of the home. Linear wire rows enclose the staircase, a linear pattern repeats on the exterior cedar, and tall linear cabinetry lines much of the first and second floors.
The textural experiences throughout the home are both visual and physical, elevating the design profile beyond appearance alone. Soft linens and hard stone meet tangible microcement and organic woods that yearn to be touched.
The Barbell House embodies simplicity in materiality, structure, and environmental impact. The home’s neutral material palette draws the eye to the rear of the wooded property, engaging social and private spaces with the immediate environment. The home’s unique aesthetic reflects the homeowner’s European heritage while introducing innovative design into a traditional neighborhood.
