High up on a ridge in Sharon, Connecticut, the Sharon Mountain House was designed by Mapos Architects to bridge the granite ledge and old farm ruins for a Manhattan couple with adult children. Following the brief for a modern and cantilevered home, the result is a home with a cedar-clad upper floor that rests on a dark lava stone base.

With its floating quality, the Sharon Mountain House unfolds in two distinct volumes. The main living wing extends horizontally, one end resting on the granite outcrop to create a sheltered parking area underneath, and the other held up by the dark lava stone-clad guest wing tucked into the ridge.

Strung together by a long hallway, the living zones are awash in light streaming in from full-length glazing and strategically placed windows. A central stairwell drops light into the house’s core and down to the lower-level guest wing. The owners’ collection of art and rugs, gathered from their travels, stands out against the natural brightness of the Belgian White Oak that covers the floors, ceilings, and walls. To foster a connection with the outdoors, the southern end of the home opens onto a four-season sunroom, where a steel bridge leads to a sundeck.

The home’s design also took the family cats into consideration: windows were extended to the floor or designed with deep ledges — “observation decks” that let the cats watch the birds and changing seasons from inside the home. As Mapos Architects summed up the project: “It is a home designed to endure, providing a sanctuary for its inhabitants — human and animal alike — for years to come.”

Photography © Michael Biondo