X Markes the Spot

Sometimes architecture starts with a material. Sometimes it starts with a landscape. And sometimes it starts with a paddle stroke. Architects Mimi Hoang and Eric Bunge have been navigating the same Dutchess County lake for over a decade: They’ve paddled along the same wooded shoreline, dived into the same deep water, and watched the same woods unfurl and shed through the seasons. The husband-and-wife cofounders of nArchitects regularly take on site-responsive projects across the globe. But no matter how far-flung the architectural commission, they always found their way back to the same fresh-water Hudson Valley microcosm to swim, kayak, or just relax with their children. “There’s just something magical about this lake,” explains Hoang. “It’s quiet, it’s peaceful—and it always felt like home long before it actually was.”

In 2020, they decided to search online for buildable lots within a two-hour radius of New York City. Then they hit jackpot: eight raw, level acres with water access—all within their budget. The best part? It was straight across the lake. “When we saw it we couldn’t believe it,” says Bunge. “We’d been swimming and kayaking past that shoreline for years. It was a stretch we’d always returned to.” It wasn’t just the familiarity that appealed, the design challenge was also intriguing. “We love projects that connect to place,” explains Bunge. “We love the bravery of designing something totally new—it’s just like embarking on a journey.”

Photos by Michael Moran