The Catskill Project, a new residential development constructed using Passive House design principles, has launched sales following the completion of the development’s first carbon-neutral model home.
Situated on more than 90 acres in New York’s beloved Catskill Mountains,
The Catskill Project offers buyers the opportunity to purchase a two- or three-bedroom home that combines contemporary design with natural materials—many of which were sourced and/or built locally.
The Catskill Project features 11 three- to six-acre lots on which the project team will build single-family homes that have been designed to coexist with and complement their surroundings.
Each custom-built home is designed to meet Passive House principles, achieving up to a 90 percent reduction in annual energy requirements compared to a standard home. As a result, The Catskill Project will become one of the greenest, most energy efficient residential developments in the Greater New York area.
“The Catskill Project is as ambitious as it is humble. While each homeowner will carve out their own lifestyle here, the common denominator is the same: stewardship and respect for nature; a desire to live responsibly and meaningfully; and to cherish simple values that feed our bodies and souls,” said Peter Malik, principal, The Catskill Project. “It is a community of fellow dreamers/explorers and good neighbors, all in the vanguard of a life led in harmony with the environment that sustains us.”
Homes at The Catskill Project are available in three unique two- or three-bedroom designs for buyers to choose from. All of the homes will incorporate solar PV to cover their modest energy requirements, and buyers will choose from a number of custom-designed upgrades, including Tesla Powerwall batteries; electric vehicle chargers; outdoor plunge pools, saunas, outdoor showers; accessory buildings; additional screened porches, decks, patios, and mudroom add-ons; as well as upgraded kitchen, bath and living packages, among others.
Pricing for two-bedroom homes start at $895,000; three-bedroom homes start at $945,000.
Passive House design is one of the most rigorous energy-based building standards in the world, paving the way to increased durability, optimal thermal comfort, superior indoor air quality and reduced allergens and pollutants for residents. It is a critical step towards delivering healthy, low-maintenance homes that are built to last and mindful of their environmental impact. Triple-glazed windows, super-insulation, a continuous air barrier and zero thermal bridges allow for a significant reduction in annual energy requirements.
“Meeting their remarkably low energy needs with renewable solar power, homes at The Catskill Project are net-zero energy and carbon-neutral from day one,” said Buck Moorhead, AIA, CPHD and principal of Buck Moorhead Architect / ACME Passive. “A continuous air barrier, super-insulation, and thermal-bridge-free design—staples of Passive House construction—allow us to achieve up to a 90 percent reduction in annual energy requirements as compared to the average code-built home. This is something we’re proud to achieve at The Catskill Project, and believe will have to be an integral part of all building design in an evolving, climate-conscious world.”
More than 40 acres of the site have been set aside as a nature reserve, which helps to further offset The Catskill Project’s carbon footprint while maintaining the site’s natural beauty.
Once purchased, each home at The Catskill Project will be custom-built on the lot personally selected by the future homeowner, which range from three to six acres. The construction of each home is expected to be completed in 12 to 18 months.
The Catskill Project is located 10 minutes from downtown Livingston Manor and downtown Roscoe, and about two hours from New York City.
