Hudson L-House
A simple ‘L’ in custom corrugated aluminum forms a south-facing green courtyard. The 1,700- square-foot house, proposed on a vacant lot, completes the fine urban fabric of Hudson, New York. Designed for renowned modern furniture gallerists Mark McDonald and Dwayne Resnick, it serves as both a live-work space and a midcentury collector ’s paradise.
McDonald, often referred to as the “godfather ” of midcentury modern design, was instrumental in reviving interest in furniture by Marcel Breuer, Alvar Aalto, and Charles and Ray Eames. This house accommodates select pieces from the owner ’s twentieth- century design collection, including a rare 1910 Frank Lloyd Wright fixture and furniture by Rudolph Schindler.
The building ’s skin is a “finger- width” corrugated aluminum with a powder-coated finish. Cost-effective and maintenance-free, it interacts dynamically with sunlight, creating an everchanging play of shadows. The inner surfaces of the ‘L’ are soft cerulean-green, while the outer façades are white, and the underside of the projecting canopies is painted a muted blue— an homage to the Southern tradition of “Haint Blue,” believed to ward off spirits.
The ‘L’ form creates a west-facing garden, integrating living and working spaces at its two ends. A catwalk leads to a pop-up sky monitor, introducing additional light, while offering access to a flat roof with views of the Catskills—a nod to the Luminist painters of the Hudson River School. The all-wood interior receives natural light from all orientations, with carefully framed perspectives, including a south-facing sleeping area that offers a composition of joined picture windows overlooking the historic Terry Gillette Mansion. Birch plywood lines the open-plan interior, acting as a neutral backdrop for McDonald and Resnick’s curated furniture collection.
Subtle, playful elements are integrated into the design. A powder room, located at the inner angle of the ‘L,’ is rotated 45 degrees—acting as a hinge between the public and private zones of the house. The door ’s right- angled placement and a corner-wrapping window reinforce the geometric theme, while a frosted glass panel, suspended from the ceiling connects this space to an exterior window, enhancing openness and layered light.
Additionally, a custom-designed brass “Hudson L” light fixture, featuring a folded body and diffused LED lighting, reflects the architectural form of the home. A sculptural fountain, composed of two folded brass “L” shapes, circulates rainwater in the courtyard pond, reinforcing the presence of natural elements. The house features a state-of-the-art geothermal heating and cooling system, drastically reducing energy consumption. A rain-collecting pool further strengthens its connection to natural water cycles.
The house remains intimate yet dynamic—a place where furniture, architecture, and landscape harmonize in a continuous dialogue between past and present, art and nature.
McDonald, often referred to as the “godfather ” of midcentury modern design, was instrumental in reviving interest in furniture by Marcel Breuer, Alvar Aalto, and Charles and Ray Eames. This house accommodates select pieces from the owner ’s twentieth- century design collection, including a rare 1910 Frank Lloyd Wright fixture and furniture by Rudolph Schindler.
The building ’s skin is a “finger- width” corrugated aluminum with a powder-coated finish. Cost-effective and maintenance-free, it interacts dynamically with sunlight, creating an everchanging play of shadows. The inner surfaces of the ‘L’ are soft cerulean-green, while the outer façades are white, and the underside of the projecting canopies is painted a muted blue— an homage to the Southern tradition of “Haint Blue,” believed to ward off spirits.
The ‘L’ form creates a west-facing garden, integrating living and working spaces at its two ends. A catwalk leads to a pop-up sky monitor, introducing additional light, while offering access to a flat roof with views of the Catskills—a nod to the Luminist painters of the Hudson River School. The all-wood interior receives natural light from all orientations, with carefully framed perspectives, including a south-facing sleeping area that offers a composition of joined picture windows overlooking the historic Terry Gillette Mansion. Birch plywood lines the open-plan interior, acting as a neutral backdrop for McDonald and Resnick’s curated furniture collection.
Subtle, playful elements are integrated into the design. A powder room, located at the inner angle of the ‘L,’ is rotated 45 degrees—acting as a hinge between the public and private zones of the house. The door ’s right- angled placement and a corner-wrapping window reinforce the geometric theme, while a frosted glass panel, suspended from the ceiling connects this space to an exterior window, enhancing openness and layered light.
Additionally, a custom-designed brass “Hudson L” light fixture, featuring a folded body and diffused LED lighting, reflects the architectural form of the home. A sculptural fountain, composed of two folded brass “L” shapes, circulates rainwater in the courtyard pond, reinforcing the presence of natural elements. The house features a state-of-the-art geothermal heating and cooling system, drastically reducing energy consumption. A rain-collecting pool further strengthens its connection to natural water cycles.
The house remains intimate yet dynamic—a place where furniture, architecture, and landscape harmonize in a continuous dialogue between past and present, art and nature.
Steven Holl Architects
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