DAY TRIPPIN': MANITOGA
As a native New Yorker from Brooklyn, I consider anywhere north of the city to be “upstate.” Only when I started college did I come to comprehend just how big the state of New York really is, and what’s actually considered “upstate:” (spoiler alert: 1 hour away does not count). Ever since then, I’ve learned from friends and trips on my own just how fascinating the entire state of New York is. In particular, the Hudson Valley is one of my favorites, with cute cafes, towns, art galleries, cultural centers, restaurants and more.
A recent trip brought friends and I to Manitoga, the home and studio of industrial designer Russell Wright. Today, the site is a visitor center hidden amidst nature. A former quarry, Wright built his home in the 1950’s - the process continued well into the 60’s and beyond, with its’ influence on modern architecture and minimalist interiors still seen today.
Winding your way through the hills and man-made lake that overlooks the house, one finds themselves immersed in nature, as originally intended by the designer. With “outdoor rooms” leading to hidden trails and paths, the winding entrance takes you around the entire property before ending up at the front door. Legend has it that Wright would not let visitors enter his home until they had “left the city behind.”
A pergola draped with cascading greenery connects the home and studio to one another. One can only imagine the walk between the two spaces, especially on cold winter nights. Colors in the main house are switched according to the seasons; the cupboard covers, drapes, closet doors, upholstery and more rotates from blues and whites in the spring/summer, to deep red in fall and winter. Scenic views overlook the lake, while the indoor/outdoor connection can be seen throughout the space; in one such encounter, the cavernous rock continues into the living room, separated only by thin glass panes.
Although many are familiar with the work of Russell Wright as an industrial designer, his home and studio gives us a lasting impression of just how intuitive he was as a designer. The consideration of materials, including his use of the everyday, such as burlap, styrofroam and wood throughout, give a glimpse into his mind, where the inner workings focused on achieving an interior filled with the materials that we use constantly.
Manitoga offers tours of the property, where guides walk you through his home and studio, explaining his design choices, family and personal life, as well as the history of the property. Behind the property are hiking trails - guests are free to peruse after their tour concludes. The gift shop features pottery and industrial designs by Wright himself - afterall, he is well known for this as well. I highly suggest a visit to this scenic location: as we enter a different period of what “home” means to us, don’t we all wish we could curate our own dream homes?
