Architect：Mapos

Location：2187 Bruynswick Rd, Wallkill, NY 12589, USA

Project Year：2018

Category：Social Housing

In early 2016, Mapos was asked to help concept and design a new retreat and event space in the Hudson Valley, 2 hours North of New York City. The site was a 5 acre abandoned nursery with several greenhouses, warehouses, agricultural sheds, and a two-level house. The structures were all in poor condition and completely overrun by vegetation. The limited budget dictated a strategic and creative reuse of the existing structures which supported the client’s request for an authentic rural retreat that would be attractive to New York City customers.

The first step was a thorough and thoughtful walk through of the property to assess what was in reusable condition and what kind of program it could support in the future. Most of the wood-framed greenhouses were in need of demolition as well as the house. The removal of these unstable structures left the more durable steel-framed greenhouses – cleared of broken and dangerous glass - and a concrete block warehouse. A small historic barn and industrial shed building were also able to be reused.

The resulting collection of existing structures sat in a loose compound on a sloping meadow with grand views of the mountains to the East and great visibility from the approaching rural highway. Sitting among the tall grasses and native wildflowers, the future buildings and outdoor spaces would step up the slope, each framing its downhill neighbor. With only one greenhouse needing to be moved, the final assemblage integrates with the landscape and maintains its agrarian roots.

The largest greenhouse would become the 14-room hotel. The rooms were organized in three blocks and laid out in a U-shape around a central garden. Designed like agricultural sheds, the hotel blocks slip underneath the hoop-trusses to create a utilitarian assembly of steel frames, wood siding and wood-slat fencing. Each room has a private bathroom and terrace with an outdoor shower. An adjacent steel-framed greenhouse covers 5 extra-large private gardens with outdoor showers and soaking tubs.

The existing concrete block warehouse would become the new bar and restaurant. The existing roof over half of the 3,000sf warehouse was removed to create an intimate outdoor courtyard with lounge furniture, potted plants and fire pits. An open bar and kitchen serve the adjacent restaurant with intimate indoor dining and an exterior deck looking over the entire complex and the mountains beyond.

Just up from the central courtyard at the top of the slope are the main event spaces. An existing greenhouse was re-skinned in UV protected acrylic panels to become a three-season event space. The northern wall was outfitted with removable panels so that the entire greenhouse can open to an outdoor event court for larger gatherings and celebrations. On the opposite side of this event court is an existing farm shed retrofitted with picnic tables and power hook-ups for temporary catering, food trucks and a beer hall.

The only ground-up construction of the entire compound is the new barn at the top of the hill. Based on Mapos’ direction, the barn was pre-fabricated off-site and assembled in only a few days. It is connected to the event greenhouse and houses an office, hotel registration, and a collection of private bathrooms. Most of the barn is a large open space to complement the event greenhouse, hosting indoor events year-round and in inclement weather.

Taken independently, each program at the Greenhouses is a study in strategic reuse, durable materiality, and a working solution for sleeping, eating, and entertaining. Taken together, the Greenhouses is a beautiful retreat and event space integrated with the landscape and its agricultural past. 

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