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A Modernist Glass Retreat in the Pocono Forest
Camp Double Oak was born from a simple frustration: the inability to find vacation accommodations that reflected the qualities I value most as an architect—clarity of design, thoughtful craftsmanship, intelligent planning, and a meaningful connection to nature. Rather than continue searching for a place that did not seem to exist, I decided to design and build it myself.
A modernist retreat inspired by the principles of Bauhaus and biophilic design, Camp Double Oak draws upon the work of architects such as Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier, and Pierre Koenig. Conceived as a contemporary glass pavilion, the house is designed not merely to sit within nature, but to become part of it. Elevated slightly above the forest floor, with floor-to-ceiling glass walls overlooking a private lake and surrounding woods, it dissolves the boundary between indoors and out, allowing light, weather, and the changing seasons to shape the experience of the space.
The project is also informed by my Kentucky heritage and an appreciation for the Arts and Crafts tradition, where craftsmanship, honest materials, and thoughtful making are deeply valued. The name Double Oak references the bourbon-making practice of secondary barrel aging, while the home's charred wood exterior evokes the dark interiors of Kentucky oak barrels. Together, these influences create a retreat that balances modernist restraint with enduring traditions of material authenticity.
More than a vacation home, Camp Double Oak is an exploration of how architecture can enrich experience—a place designed to foster calm, reflection, and a deeper connection to the natural world through architecture, landscape, and craftsmanship.
