River Architects builds gabled Passive House in Hudson Valley

River Architects has completed the China Pond Passive House, a wood-clad structure in Carmel, New York, replacing an earlier residence on the same 2.2-acre wooded property. The 4,318-square-foot home, finished in November 2025, features gabled volumes oriented around a pond, echoing the additive nature of camp buildings. The massing is broken into smaller volumes to reduce scale, with two gabled bars joined by a flat-roofed wedge. Clad in reclaimed cypress and Douglas fir above a native stone foundation, the house integrates with existing stonework and trees. Inside, the great room recreates the original library's intimate yet expansive feel, while private sleeping spaces are on the southern side. A central stone chimney anchors the living spaces. The project achieved Phius certification through a highly insulated envelope, triple-pane glazing, solar orientation, and all-electric heat pumps, with no fossil fuel use. Principal James Hartford emphasized the playful massing and dialogue with the landscape. Photography by Pamela Cook.