Built on a former sheep grazing field overlooking Massachusetts’ Chilmark Pond, the Chilmark House is a nod to New England’s bank barns. New York studio Schiller Projects and Gray Organschi Architecture collaborated on this stunning home, designing two barns that host the living spaces and a studio. Inspired by the farm complexes in the area, these two volumes were placed tightly together, forming a series of courtyards and outdoor spaces between and around the buildings, with varying degrees of privacy and views.
Clad in Shou Sugi Ban louvers —a Japanese method of weather-proofing wood by applying heat— the exterior is defined by its dark color and sloping ceilings.
Within this exterior envelope, bleached ash lines the walls and ceilings. Sleeping nooks are slotted in the dropped areas high on the roof. On the lower level, a series of bedrooms are interspersed with shared spaces that offer glimpses into light wells adorned with local rocks and moss. Large, floor-to-ceiling windows line an entire façade, funnelling in natural light into the home throughout the day. Schiller Projects also produced a number of freestanding furniture around the house, setting up a minimalist-modern ambience in every room.
Photography © David Sundberg