Trotter Residence, Accord, NY

4500 sf

A family retreat and gathering place on 35 acres in Upstate New York.

The owners, originally from the Czech Republic and India, maintain close ties to both family and the arts in their home countries. They envisioned a home that could welcome visiting relatives and friends, offer a residency-style space for artists to create, and provide their young boys with the freedom to run, swim, build, ski, and bike. When they purchased a 35-acre property in Accord, NY— an address not yet listed on Google Maps—they saw the potential for a compound that would serve as both a family retreat and a gathering place.

The original house was sited without taking advantage of the pond or surrounding landscape. Retaining part of the existing structure, Gauthier Architects reoriented the home to capture natural light and maximize views. The result is an expansive space, with soaring ceilings and an exposed diagrid roof which transforms the structural system into a defining design feature.

At the heart of the house lies the kitchen, surrounded by multiple sitting areas and a large dining space. This central hub allows simultaneous use by different groups while still providing distinct (programmatic) areas for various activities and ages. One wing of the house extends from this space and holds the family bedrooms, while the other offers several guest rooms and flexible spaces for visitors. The lower level expands the program further with recreation and creative areas, including ping-pong, gym equipment, a movie room, and art and craft studios.

dwg 1 50T

dwg 2 50T

dwg3 50T

DESIGN TEAM

Michael Hoehn, Christopher Tomasetti, Randy Armas, Michael Soderberg, Ziyue Wang

CONSULTING ENGINEER

Buro Happold - Cristobal Correa, Ana Serra

CIVIL ENGINEER

Peak Engineering

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

Hoffmann-Brandt Projects and Stefan Yarabak

CONSTRUCTION MANAGER

John Gates

PHOTOGRAPHY

Amy Barkow Photo