Don’t Judge a Super Evil-Looking Country Retreat by Its Cover

Inside: Bed nooks, a chandelier fireplace and views for days

February 3, 2017 9:00 am

The calm (some might say eerie) design of the Mask House by WOJR Organization for Architecture is an effort to create a refuge from the bustle of urban life. If you detect a solemn feeling about the place, you’re not mistaken: constructed in Ithaca, New York, it was conceived as a meditative reflection space for a man who lost his younger brother.

The Mask House (6 images)

The 587-square-foot lakeside residence sits atop stilts and has a netted walkway leading to its entrance. The foreboding exterior is counterbalanced by a warm, open floor plan inside, with a hanging fireplace and nook for the bed set adjacent to a wall of windows. The firm calls it “a space of myriad sanctuaries.”

We’re keen on the rooftop deck, with its picturesque 360-degree views and capacity for hosting epic barbecues. There’s not a lot else in the way of entertainment, but we’ll venture everyone plugged into the ‘net these days is in need of a digital detox.

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