marc thorpe design (MTD) presents the edifice, a modest cedar-built cabin nestled among the lush woods of new york?s catskill mountains. covering only 500 square feet, the residential project is an exercise in reduction, encouraging occupants to live only with what is necessary. the design, heavily influenced by the transcendentalist writings of emerson and thoreau, stands as an example of an introverted architecture which encourages introspection and solitude.

all images by marco petrini
 
 
architect marc thorpe designs the edifice in perfect balance with its environment, situated quietly among the trees. the designer comments that transcendentalism ? the project?s driving concept ? represents ?a belief in the inherent goodness of people and nature. the belief that society and its institutions have corrupted the purity of the individual and that people are at their best when truly self-sustaining and independent.? the edifice exhibits this philosophy through its physical isolation, essentialist programming, and self-sustaining infrastructure.
 
 
marc thorpe?s edifice expresses no clear point of entry as the visitor approaches, remaining an undefined object within the landscape until physically engaged. taking note from the ideals of richard serra, marc thorpe invites the occupant to move around the work so as to understand it in relation to its context, revealing more of itself over time. as serra describes: ?I think you always have to find where the boundary is i...