A 'cottage' brings accolades

The 'retreat,' designed by Riverdale-based architect Rene Robert Mueller. Photo by Karsten Moran

By Jason Fields

Twenty-two acres, an art studio, a museum for steam-driven industrial machinery that only the estate’s owners are entitled to visit, a residence for the family with space set aside for a live-in caretaker, and a “retreat” acres away from the main house to get away from bustle and enjoy quiet contemplation.

No, it’s not Jane Austen’s description of Bannier Park, owned for centuries by the D’Abblevilles. It’s an estate owned by a family named Weinstein, located in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y., with buildings designed by Riverdale architect Rene Robert Mueller.

Mr. Mueller began work on the project nine years ago and recently received an award from the American Institute for Architecture for the design of the recently completed “retreat.”

“The Retreat is a 1900 sq. ft. ‘jewel box,’ nestled among trees and boulders that were a favorite spot where the client used to play during his childhood,” Mr. Mueller writes.

Mr. Weinstein spent childhood weekends at his family’s home in Garrison, N.Y. When the property was sold in 1980, the loss left a “huge burning, gaping hole in my heart,” Mr. Weinstein said. “And the cottage was to make it go away.

“And largely it did,” he said

In a short time, the cedar planks will go gray and the entire structure will fade into the landscape, according to Mr. Mueller.

“It will disappear in nature,” he said.

The building has a sweeping arch shape in the front, including decks on the first and second floors, with angled roofs that add traditional touches to the design.

Gerald Weinstein, who spends as much time in the small house as he can, calls it “the cottage.”

The other buildings on the property also seem to co-opt the contemporary in service of tradition. The studio imitates elements of a Swiss barn (Mr. Mueller was born and studied in that country), and the inside is a space clear of distractions.

“None of that crazy showwhat- a-great-architect I am stuff,” he said. “It’s very important to understand the client.”

Beside his cottage, Mr. Weinstein’s passion is for his private museum of machinery. He is an archaeologist who focuses on the remnants of early industrialization, and the museum is a tribute to that passion. Most of the machinery housed in the building isn’t up and running yet, but Mr. Weinstein said he is hoping to fix that soon. Once he has railings created to fence off all the moving parts, he’d like to open up his museum to others.

“I thought it would be cool to have school groups there,” he said.

Mr. Weinstein spoke very highly of the quality of work across the estate, and Mr. Mueller was complimentary in return.

The Weinsteins have been “dream” clients, Mr. Mueller said. “They trust me.”

This is part of the December 17, 2009 online edition of The Riverdale Press.

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