Geometric Airbnb in Hudson Valley: A House You Won't Forget
If you're looking for more than just a place to sleep outside the city, living inside an architectural experiment, The Ex of In House in Rhinebeck could be a perfect choice. This unusual house in the Hudson Valley forest combines geometry, light, and nature — sometimes almost like an art object.
Not a House, But a Space for Observation
The project was completed in 2016 by architect Steven Holl. The house is situated on a 28-acre lot, which was initially planned to be divided into five separate country homes, but ultimately preserved as a single large estate.
That’s why there’s no feeling of a standard cottage in the woods here. The building resembles a small bright gallery: the space consists of volumes, openings, ceilings, and unusual angles. It doesn’t try to dominate nature but seems to draw the forest inside.
Who Is This Place For
The Ex of In House is designed for four guests: inside, there is one bed, a sofa, and two bathrooms. The area is only 918 square feet, so it’s not an option for those expecting a spacious country house with a dozen separate zones.
Instead, architecture, art, and unusual travel enthusiasts may find it very interesting here. The house is suitable for a quiet escape from New York, a creative retreat, or a trip where the main entertainment becomes observing the space, light, and forest.
Nature Is Part of the Interior
Natural materials were used in the house: redwood for window and door frames, birch plywood for walls, and curved wooden layers in various elements. There’s no usual feeling that everything is hidden behind drywall and decorative coverings: the materials remain visible and shape the character of the home.
Comfort is provided by geothermal heating with underfloor heating and solar energy for electricity production. Large windows turn daylight into one of the main details of the interior. In rainy weather, the sound of raindrops becomes a natural soundtrack, and the surrounding forest is a constantly changing backdrop.
Is It Worth Going
Yes, if you like places with character and are ready to trade traditional coziness for strong impressions. This accommodation doesn’t disguise itself as a universal comfortable cottage: it’s deliberately unusual, almost theatrical, and memorable.
However, if you need many rooms, a familiar layout, or a vacation without any architectural surprises, this option may seem too compact and experimental. But for a trip where you want to feel how the house interacts with the forest, The Ex of In House looks like a truly special choice.
Would you go to such a geometric house for the architecture and the silence of the forest?
