Nithurst Farm

Nithurst Farm, a family home in open country of Sussex County, engages in dialogue with agricultural buildings nearby.

Drawing from multiple influences, from the formal architecture of Vanbrugh to the works of the Russian filmmaker Tarkovsky, it crafts a contrast between classical and contemporary. The brick cladding of the concrete building gives it a visual connection with agricultural constructions in the vicinity. The house’s stepped form, the arched window openings, and the dark bricks around them together produce an optical illusion of movement.

Striking a contrast with the ceramic exterior, the interior presents deliberately rough concrete surfaces. One enters through the farm courtyard to find a play of contrasts in the various interior spaces, home to an impressive art collection. The upper part of the house harbors the most private areas, and because of the stepped form of the building, there are panoramic views of the open fields to be had from there.