Vipp and Johnston Marklee Debut 'Livable Sculpture' in Upstate New York

Danish design brand Vipp, in collaboration with Johnston Marklee & Associates, has completed the Vipp Pavilion in Sullivan County, New York, a concrete guesthouse described as a 'sculpture you can live inside.' Located two hours from Manhattan on a remote pond, the structure prioritizes abstract, artistic design over domestic practicality. Third-generation Vipp owner Sofie Christensen Egelund initiated the project over a decade ago, partnering with architect Sharon Johnston. The pavilion features a tiny footprint, a courtyard nearly double its size, an unbounded shower, and a floor-length curtain encircling the main room. It is part of Vipp's broader inquiry into experimental living, joining guesthouses in Norway, Latvia, and Baja. The design process emphasized collaboration and a rule to choose artistic over residential options at every crossroads. Johnston noted the house 'resets your expectations' and breaks down conventional boundaries. The project reflects a growing desire for rural retreats, accelerated by COVID and economic shifts. Photography by Eric Petschek.