Hinesburg, VT | 40 Old Route 116

Description

On the edge of a clearing, within 55 magical acres of forest, sits a modernist masterpiece. Designed by award-winning architect Harry Wolf in collaboration with landscape architect Fred Arnold, its gleaming tower reveals itself along the arcing driveway. Built in 1975 and recipient of the 1976 AIANC Honor Award, it remains a remarkable expression of architecture in dialogue with the landscape. A bridge sits lightly on the land, leading elegantly to the front door. Inside, the home is designed around light, volume, and framed views, with soaring spaces and a glowing spiral staircase at its core. The entry level features a light-filled galley kitchen, curved banquette, and wall of glass overlooking a terrace. Below, the living level centers around a high-efficiency wood stove, with a guest room, private balcony, and space for an office or library. The third floor offers three bedrooms, including a bunk room opening onto a terrace overlooking the lawn and in-ground pool. At the top, the striking primary suite captures views in every direction, with mountains visible from the bed. Thoughtful improvements bring this significant 1970s design into the present. Now all-electric and net-zero, the home features a new solar array, mini-split heating and cooling, improved insulation and weatherization, newer Trex decking, and a new roof. The architecture is inseparable from its setting. Two creeks cross the wooded 55 acres, forming headwaters of the LaPlatte River, while 744 acres of protected wildlife management land border the property. A small sugarbush offers potential for approximately 200 taps. Rarely does a home feel so completely of its place. Architecture, light, forest, water, and distant mountain views come together in a property that is both an important work of modernism and an extraordinary place to live.