Modernist-inspired holiday homes by Lang Architecture go on sale in the Catskills

Rethinking the mountain cabin

An enclave of Modernist-inspired holiday homes by Lang Architecture have hit the market in the Catskills, New York, with prices starting from $665,000.

Drew Lang – the practice’s principal – had the idea for the Hudson Woods development after spotting a desire among his fellow city-dwellers for high-quality second homes without the hassle of property hunting or self-building.

‘A lot of people just don’t know where to look for this sort of property,’ explains Lang, ‘or they can’t afford to spend the time and money required to manage their own project, whether it be a renovation or a new build.’

Catskill holiday homes by Lang Architects
Courtesy of Lang Architects

Lang and his team set about identifying and securing a suitable site, settling on a picturesque wooded plot in Hudson Valley, around a two-hour drive from New York City.

The studio oversaw the design and construction of the Catskill holiday homes, as well as their marketing and sales, ensuring a level of control and consistency not typically enjoyed by architects.

‘The ability to define a project on our own and then execute every aspect was the main appeal,’ says Lang. ‘Of course, there’s more risk but there’s also more reward, and I actually enjoy both.’

Twenty-six cabins are dotted across the 131-acre site on private lots that vary in size from 2.7 acres to more than 10 acres, providing space for optional extras including pool houses, guest houses, vegetable gardens and fruit tree groves.

Each property – from one to three-bedroom holiday homes – share an aesthetic based on combining contemporary cabin architecture with references to traditional agricultural structures to ensure they blend in with their natural setting.

‘You could call them a modern American vernacular,’ Lang suggested. ‘On the one hand we wanted to design a modern house, and on the other we tried to incorporate local elements through the use of natural materials and the vernacular of local farm buildings.’

Catskill holiday homes by Lang Architects
Photography: Deborah D

By employing a uniform aesthetic and standardised construction, the project team was able to take advantage of economies-of-scale and pass on the resulting cost savings to the buyers.

The lots sold so far range in price from $665,000 to $1.22m without add-ons. Buyers first choose a plot and base home before selecting from a catalogue of customisation options including furniture and lighting produced by local makers.

Catskill holiday homes by Lang Architects
Photography: Deborah D

According to Lang, only two of the lots are yet to be sold, with around half of the cabins now completed and several more set to begin construction in the spring.

The firm is currently collaborating on another development in Mississippi and intends to revisit the Hudson Woods concept in the future on a different site.

Read next: 6 cabins you can rent this winter

See more cabins on The Spaces

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