the nine-square house was born of a several-year-long collaboration between the owner, artist zak kitnick, and francesco galetto, principal at the esteemed nyc architectural firm, steven harris architects. at its core, an authentic country house, it joins & (and is inspired by) the vernacular of brutalist mid-century villas peppered throughout german, austrian, & scandinavian rural landscapes. the home is minimalist in structure so that it may support an inevitably maximal lifestyle - an extensive art collection & distinctive furnishings thrive in this home alongside an overflowing painting studio, outdoor gear for exploring the surrounding nature. every feature of the home was conceived to be both functional & pleasing to the eye; after all, the team behind the house spent more than 2 years planning a design that addressed every conceivable ergonomic & environmental question. the nine-square philosophy of living, developed in the mid-1900s by the incredible architect & professor john hejduk, is very much felt in the home′s distribution & flow of spaces. on the ground floor are the double living room, dining area, & kitchen, all flowing into each other & anchored by a marble fireplace & 3 large glass doors opening to the exterior terrace with a breathtaking view. the kitchen features danish-designed reform cabinetry, bardiglio marble, & fisher paykel appliances. an office/painting studio, a washroom, a dry bar, & laundry room complete the main level. the central architectural piece of the home is the solid white oak staircase leading up to the second floor. the 4 bedrooms upstairs, though spacious, are much more private & intimate, each with large windows on 2 sides, communing with the serene & quiet landscape outside, and sharing 2 sizable bathrooms. distinguishing features of the nine-square house include high energy efficiency due to insulation exceeding all current standards, multi-zone central ac, radiant heated floors, solid 200 lb interior doors, satin nickel kohler fixtures, cast iron sinks, & solid forged & machined brass & satin nickel door hardware. the 9 acres of land around the house, perfect as it is, has been touched as little as possible. there are wooded & open areas, with meandering walking paths trailing through the property. the nine-square house is just 20 minutes from hudson, great barrington, & millerton & 2 hours from new york city. the home is just a few minutes from copake lake.
