Custom-Shaped Bricks at Watershed House in New York State

Textured Brick Veneers from Waste

Nestled atop a rocky mound with expansive valley views, Watershed House connects its interiors seamlessly to the landscape. Through a series of sheltered spaces—including a walled garden, broad covered porch, and elevated courtyard—this house reimagines Hudson Valley vernacular with a contemporary, environmentally conscious twist.

A glassy, meandering, pavilion-like interior unified under a taut timber roof characterizes the main level, elevated above a smoothly vaulted and multi-chambered ground floor that houses a gym, spa, and service spaces. The brick-clad towers that rise from the ground and pierce the roof contain stairs and penetrations that bring light through the roof.

The collaboration on Watershed House with materials partners such as FRONT materials is rooted in a shared commitment to sustainability and craftsmanship. The project team sought materials that performed well structurally and aesthetically and addressed broader social and environmental goals.

When looking for a veneer brick with a textured handmade quality to clad several of the volumes of the facade that slip through the timber roof structure, MCKA found a perfect match in the FRONT WasteBasedSlips. The brick slips, made with at least 60% waste materials, add character and depth to the interior and exterior to accentuate the continuity of the volumes.

Custom Made WasteBasedBricks

Besides the beautifully textured, handmade WasteBasedSlip finishes for interior and exterior use, custom brick designs with unique shapes were developed for this ambitious project.

One important dimension of the collaboration between MKCA and FRONT was the creation of custom-shaped bricks to create the tight radii the architect was seeking. A solid brick pie shape with a 4-inch radius was designed in the same rhythm of division around a tight rounded corner.

This required expertise and creative problem-solving at the factory where the bricks are made by hand, and the processing facility which experimented with slicing a simulated grout joint into the specially shaped bricks.

Sustainability Highlights

• The building’s skin and roof are largely comprised of Black Locust timber from local forests, normally destined for use as firewood.
• Handmade brick slips by FRONT Materials, incorporating at least 60% recycled waste, are used for both exterior and interior finishes, creating visual continuity and depth.
• The architects worked with forestry experts at Tri-Lox and engineers at Silman to build up and support a local supply chain where one does not currently exist for timber sourced from New York State-managed forests.
• The landscape was designed in collaboration with Marge Ruddick Landscape to restore native plant species and to create seamless indoor-outdoor transitions.

Watershed House exemplifies the future of architecture—one that balances history, environment, and innovation. Through creative collaborations and dedication to sustainable practices, this project enhances its natural surroundings and sets a precedent for how modern buildings can engage with their context and values.