Stunning Olson Kundig–Designed Retreat in the Berkshires Lists for $15.5 Million
Dubbed Vergelegen, the 300-acre estate also features gardens by acclaimed British landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith
Encompassing some 300 pristine acres in the Berkshires, this sprawling Massachusetts estate, dubbed Vergelegen, was masterfully designed by architect Tom Kundig as a bucolic weekend retreat for a Boston-based family. Completed in 2014, the 4,300-square-foot residence boasts stellar views of the Taconic Mountains and comprises a pair of narrow, stacked volumes—a concrete-clad lower level and a cantilevered upper floor sheathed in cor-ten steel and walls of glass.
To capitalize on the minimalist retreat’s forest-meets-meadow setting, the majority of the living space is concentrated on the light-filled top floor, including all three bedrooms, the kitchen, living room, office, and music room. The enormous window walls are also capable of being completely opened and cleverly include drop-down screens that prevent bugs from entering. The ground level, meanwhile, features the double-height entryway, a heated garage, wine cellar, and laundry room.
Elevating the property further are gardens conceived by acclaimed British landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith, who was enlisted by the Royal Family to mastermind the manicured grounds at Windsor Palace. Here, he has devised a so-called “Paradise Garden” for farm-to-table edibles and cut flowers, as well as a circular area with plantings, gravel paths, and benches—all centered around an apple tree.
The breathtaking property also includes a revamped 2,500-square-foot farmhouse dating to the 1840s that comes with two bedrooms and features a wraparound columned porch; a pair of charming guest cottages; and a climate-controlled facility for art storage. The horsey set will delight in the state-of-the-art equestrian facilities, among them indoor and outdoor arenas, a six-stall barn, 11 paddocks, and miles of trails. Notably, those interested in enhancing the estate even more are in luck: Kundig drew up plans for a writer’s retreat to be located on the property’s highest point.
The home is listed with Elyse Harney Morris and Kenzie Fields. See more photos below.