Reflective Aluminum-Clad Home: A Study in Freedom and Flexibility
An architect couple's mathematically precise woodland retreat in Upstate New York
1Unconventional Home with Aluminum Facade
Architects Max Worrell and Jejon Yeung built their 1,500 sq ft retreat on six woodland acres, featuring corrugated aluminum sheets extending six inches into the ground. The first home they've designed for themselves in their 11-year joint practice, the structure initially resembles a storage unit or art installation. Comprising cubic modules measuring 7x7x7 feet each, every element from kitchen island to bed platform adheres to this mathematical system.
2Precision of Modular Design
All windows and interior elements strictly follow the 7-foot cube module geometry. Even the 7x14 ft plunge pool in the yard reflects this mathematical order. The architects applied their signature modular approach from urban projects to redefine spatial perception in their own home. The T-shaped core containing two skylit bathrooms and storage forms the design's backbone.
3Open-Plan 'Forest Cabin' Concept
Dubbed their 'open cabin,' the house features a fluid layout blurring indoor-outdoor boundaries. Spaces radiating from the T-shaped core create a single-room feel. Fully operable window systems, usable only about one month annually, connect with nature. The guest area includes a flexible salon with Murphy bed and wood-paneled den.
4Design Inspirations and References
Escaping their 'normative' Brooklyn apartment, the couple drew inspiration from Dan Graham's mirror installations. The design also references queer architectural legacies of Horace Gifford's Fire Island homes, Philip Johnson's Glass House, and Paul Rudolph's Yale legacy. A paprika-colored rug nods to Yale Architecture School where the couple met.
5Curated Vintage Interiors
The space features auction-find vintage pieces including Le Corbusier's Cassina sofa, Mies van der Rohe's Knoll chair, and FontanaArte sconces by Aulenti+Castiglioni. Palladium Arte marble kitchen island, custom Fenix vanities, and Daltile tiles create a lived-in feel within a minimalist palette.
6Tension Between Exposure and Retreat
'We play with what's concealed and revealed,' says Yeung, describing diagonal views connecting spaces. This approach translates LGBTQ+ experiences of navigating public/private spheres into architecture. The home also serves as a testing ground for ideas not implemented in client projects.
7An Architectural Manifesto
'Now clients can see what works here,' Worrell notes, highlighting the home's dual role as showroom. This aluminum-clad structure challenges conventional housing through cubic modules and fluid spaces. It represents both functional living and conceptual statement.
8Reinterpreting Modernism
Worrell Yeung's project bridges 20th-century modernist rigor with 21st-century living. Between modular precision and queer architectural spirit, the home showcases sustainable material choices. As a culmination of 11 years' practice, it points toward future housing possibilities.