Gluck+’s Bridge House: Three Centuries of Rural American Architecture in One Interconnected Home

Bridge House by Gluck+ rethinks the typical country retreat, which is oftentimes just a nondescript, run-of-the-mill house built in a remote area. Located in the hamlet of Olivebridge, this unusual design combines three centuries of American country architecture in one home. Its unique assemblage consists of various volumes, each with a different style and material, joined by long and lean bridges, a gesture from which the home gets its name.

One of the three volumes is a large three-story cube clad in thin rectangular concrete panels that resemble cut stone—a nod to early North American Palladianism.

This white cubic shelter is intersected by another volume with a contrasting bricked skin and an A-line roof—a reference to regional farmhouses. Both shelters–the white cube and the farmhouse-like bricked one–are at the same time pierced by a connecting long and narrow bridge that stands out for its shape and materiality. The use of corrugated metal references the low-cost rural buildings from the twentieth century found in the area. Together, the composition creates a strange mix that pays homage to three centuries of rural American architecture.

Inside, the spaces are unusual but designed for the enjoyment of nature and culture. While the lean bridge structure serves as a corridor and features a long window with forest views, by comparison, the larger volumes unveil wide, naturally lit spaces to enjoy with family and friends.

Two of our favorite spots in the home are framed a focal points. First is the overflowing bookshelf with a perfectly placed window looking out to the woods.

And second is a fireplace engulfed by a large window that melds the cozy indoors with its fairy-tale woodland surroundings.

One other curious architectural detail we’d like to highlight is the “stairway to heaven,” a set of stairs that go up to a glazed door right under the A-line roof and into a treetop-high wooden bridge that connects this magical home with…heaven?

The Bridge House provides a country retreat for an urban family that features a bevy of stylistic expressions and a diverse use of materials. Within that eclectic mix are elements of whimsy and surprise that makes the living experience both versatile and playful. A result of an adaptation to the site and program, the home is both bold and a fluid conceptual exercise.

See more wonderful homes by Gluck+ here.

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Photos via Gluck+