True North Modern Glass House

Glass Sanctuary in the Catskills

A gleaming glass getaway by the much lauded architect Thomas Phifer, a design instructor, lecturer and a seven time National Honor Award winner, this architectural gem is backed by thick woods and open to a manicured green lawn in the Catskills, only 15 minutes from the town of Hudson. The curated crystal cube offers a window on the world, its private panoramas inviting you to unwind and connect deeply with the natural world—woods, lake, wildlife and lawn, a reflection of Phifer's humanistic approach to modernism that aims to connect the built environment to the natural world.

Rented alone, or with its vast main house for a crowd of more than 16, this pavilion offers two bedrooms, one with a pair of bunk beds, plus two baths with tubs. The living area is artfully curated, a glass-enclosed observatory space made luxurious with refined furnishings and antiques. There’s a compact, galley-styled kitchen, dedicated workspace, and the transparent pavilion provides a healthy dose of exhilaration given its unique, observatory-in-the-middle-of-the-woods, fully floor-to-ceiling glass walls, with drapes for moments of privacy.

The property sits on 400 private acres crossed by lawns, rivers, forests, ponds and meadows. There are hiking trails and a shared pool open May to October. Guests can enjoy a full selection of services including yoga, massage, acupuncture, breathwork, garden tours, sound baths, natural dye workshops, and private chef meals.

To see the other property on the same site, click here.

Around

This home is located 15 minutes by car from the vibrant arts community of Hudson, a charming Upstate town along the Hudson River, only two hours by train from Manhattan. The town has plenty to occupy visitors, including restaurants, galleries, spas, yoga and pilates centers, mindfulness and meditation centers, an Opera House, and the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts.

The Taconic Parkway offers easy access for drives to NYC as well as Albany and Boston, and the region offers high-quality food and culture, with classic Upstate outdoor recreation opportunities. The ski slopes of Windham, Hunter, MA, and New England are easily reached as day outings, and the residence itself was created for creativity and transformation on site. The property is located on the ancestral homelands and traditional territories of the Mohican, Mohawk and Ramapough Munsee Lenape peoples, and the residence works to revere, acknowledge, and steward its place on First Nations lands. The property serves as a hub for visionaries and luminaries and an incubator for creatives who facilitate experiences that connect individuals to the Earth.

Location

Hudson, New York, USA. Nearest airports: Albany (35 miles), Hartford (65 miles), NY La Guardia (100 miles)

Best time to visit

May to October