A 19th-Century Iron Foundry for a Still-Life Photographer, Transformed by Ravi Raj Architecture

When a pair of New Yorkers—a still daily life photographer and a humanitarian support employee at the U.N.—were searching for a location to decompress in nature, they stumbled on an unlikely contender: an outdated iron foundry named the Clover Hill Foundry, unique designed in the early 1890s.

Tucked on a hill in Somers, New York, the series of interconnected properties were crafted to provide as portion of an iron mine, but for reasons that keep on being considerably of a mystery, they were shut and abandoned not lengthy after—”possibly,” in accordance to architect Ravi Raj—”due to a larger rip-off procedure.” The properties fell into disrepair (and, in accordance to the Somer Historical Society, the mine shaft grew to become a area beloved swimming gap) right until the 1940s, when a trio of artists transformed the structures into individual residences, keeping—fortunately—many of the original details intact.

Rapid ahead to the 21st century: The New York few was taken by the spareness of the house and the way the windows framed sights of the surrounding trees. To update the foundry for modern-day lifestyle, the duo enlisted a buddy, Brooklyn-based architect Ravi Raj, who had worked with Adjaye Associates right before starting up his individual studio.

With treatment, Ravi preserved the foundry’s initial brick walls and wood beams, hewed to a stripped-back again palette, then rearranged a couple of essential areas and additional a “modern volume” suspended inside of the soaring place. Be a part of us for a seem.

Pictures by Nick Glimenakis, courtesy of Ravi Raj Architect, except wherever observed.

the brick clad foundry is tucked into the hillside. a major update included rep 9
Previously mentioned: The brick-clad foundry is tucked into the hillside. A important update bundled replacing all of the first one-pane home windows with new metal-clad variations “in purchase to permit in the most volume of gentle.”

inside, the front door leads to a small whitewashed plywood platform. the neutr 10
Previously mentioned: Inside, the front door qualified prospects to a modest whitewashed plywood platform. The neutral, organic materials were being picked to “accentuate the interaction in between the present masonry composition and recently outlined living areas.” 
the living area is centered around a newly added malm zircon 38 inch fireplace  11
Higher than: The dwelling area is centered all around a recently extra Malm Zircon 38-Inch Fireplace in matte black. “It serves as the focal position in the space when also referencing the former fireplace that once existed there,” Ravi states.
the homeowner, claire, in a corner nook defined by wall mounted bookshelves. &a 12
Above: The home-owner, Claire, in a corner nook defined by wall-mounted bookshelves. “The initial huge-plank pine floors have been stripped and then stained a dim brown colour to contrast with the white brick interior,” Ravi says. “Also, staining the ground a darker tone authorized us to mix any mismatching existing planks superior.”
an orange sofa adds daring color. 13
Over: An orange sofa adds daring coloration.
a key move involved relocating the kitchen from the lower level of the foundry  14
Higher than: A key shift associated relocating the kitchen from the lower level of the foundry to the second ground, wherever it’s now of a piece with the residing and dining space. (The go also permitted for the addition of a bed room on the reduced ground, not pictured.) The pair of Flos Wall Lamps can swing outward to illuminate the eating table.
the kitchen, with honed marble island, is tucked beneath a cantilevered
Above: The kitchen, with honed marble island, is tucked beneath a cantilevered “box” clad in dim charred-oak slats. “The inspiration was to generate an element with a pure bark-like texture that would just about truly feel like another residence inside of the residence,” suggests Ravi. “This quantity seems to float inside the area even though also defining the kitchen region beneath it. The charred wooden material also relates to the many towering trees bordering the dwelling that are framed by the tall masonry openings.”
from the entry platform, newly added stairs lead upwards to a
Above: From the entry system, freshly included stairs direct upwards to a “screening room” and loft bed room in the cantilevered box, suspended over the kitchen and residing regions. These new structures—the landing, stairway, and loft—are like “a contemporary volume established in the aged brick and timber place,” the architect claims.
upstairs, the newly added loft bedroom is white washed and spare. 17
Above: Upstairs, the recently included loft bed room is white-washed and spare.
lighter wood planks add to the feeling of airiness. 18
Above: Lighter wooden planks add to the feeling of airiness.
the view of the living area. (there are pull down shades, for privacy.) 19
Earlier mentioned: The see of the residing space. (There are pull-down shades, for privateness.)
the bath, redone for modern times, references the building
Higher than: The tub, redone for contemporary periods, references the building’s iron-ore beginnings.

a side structure, which formerly served as guest house, now holds the primary b 21
Earlier mentioned: A side structure, which previously served as guest household, now retains the key bedroom, total with yet another wooden stove—the Shaker Stove by Wittus—for “a additional personal setting for the owners to retreat to,” in accordance to Ravi.

It’s probably worth noting, offered that there are two wooden-burning stoves in this residence, that cast iron stoves are quite a lot a section of New York background: The cities of Albany and Troy, even more upstate, were being once two of the most prolific producers of these stoves in the earth. Examine extra about that history—and the sometimes elaborate designs—via the Albany Institute of Record & Art.

the timber extension that now holds the primary bedroom. 22

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