49 Sky Top Road , Copake, NY 12516(Columbia County)

The Nine-Square House was born of a several-year-long collaboration between the owner, artist Zak Kitnick, and Francesco Galetto, principal at the esteemed NYC architectural firm, Steven Harris Architects. At its core, an authentic country house, it joins & (and is inspired by) the vernacular of brutalist mid-century villas peppered throughout German, Austrian, & Scandinavian rural landscapes. The home is minimalist in structure so that it may support an inevitably maximal lifestyle - an extensive art collection & distinctive furnishings thrive in this home alongside an overflowing painting studio, outdoor gear for exploring the surrounding nature. Every feature of the home was conceived to be both functional & pleasing to the eye; after all, the team behind the house spent more than 2 years planning a design that addressed every conceivable ergonomic & environmental question. The nine-square philosophy of living, developed in the mid-1900s by the incredible architect & professor John Hejduk, is very much felt in the home's distribution & flow of spaces. On the ground floor are the double living room, dining area, & kitchen, all flowing into each other & anchored by a marble fireplace & 3 large glass doors opening to the exterior terrace with a breathtaking view. The kitchen features Danish-designed Reform cabinetry, Bardiglio marble, & Fisher Paykel appliances. An office/painting studio, a washroom, a dry bar, & laundry room complete the main level. The central architectural piece of the home is the solid white oak staircase leading up to the second floor. The 4 bedrooms upstairs, though spacious, are much more private & intimate, each with large windows on 2 sides, communing with the serene & quiet landscape outside, and sharing 2 sizable bathrooms. Distinguishing features of the Nine-Square House include high energy efficiency due to insulation exceeding all current standards, multi-zone central AC, radiant heated floors, solid 200 lb interior doors, satin nickel Kohler fixtures, cast iron sinks, & solid forged & machined brass & satin nickel door hardware. The 9 acres of land around the house, perfect as it is, has been touched as little as possible. There are wooded & open areas, with meandering walking paths trailing through the property. The Nine-Square House is just 20 minutes from Hudson, Great Barrington, & Millerton & 2 hours from New York City. The home is just a few minutes from Copake Lake.