In a quiet hamlet near Woodstock, a single-story home designed by Iranian-American architect Amin Tadj has drawn attention in the Hudson Valley. The 2,500-square-foot residence, called Ohayo Mountain House, serves as both Tadj’s personal home and a temporary exhibition space hosting “Sense of Place,” a show running through June 2026.
The project started as an experiment in blending architecture with daily life. Tadj, known for designing the Tehran Stock Exchange and Detroit’s Art Campus, aimed to reflect the region’s identity while erasing divisions between private and communal spaces. “It’s about connection,” he explained. “Between past and present, indoors and out.”
The exhibition, organized by Tadj and Available Items—a Tivoli gallery and shop run by Kristin Coleman and Chad Phillips—includes over 70 works by 21 local artists and designers. Unlike typical galleries, Ohayo feels like a lived-in home, where art and furniture merge in domestic settings. The primary bedroom features a Memphis-inspired desk by Jackrabbit Studio next to ceramic lamps and a mixed-media fiber piece by Kat Howard.
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Tadj’s design takes inspiration from Persian courtyard houses, where private rooms surround a central open area. At Ohayo, three bedrooms can be opened or closed to the main living space, creating flexibility between solitude and socializing. The roofline, with its wavy beams, echoes the Catskills’ setting, referencing the area’s Dutch and English architectural history.
For Coleman and Phillips, the show represents years of supporting the region’s creative community. The couple relocated from Brooklyn to Germantown in 2020 and opened Available Items two years later, mixing modern, rustic, and outsider art. “This was meant to be,” Coleman said.
The title “Sense of Place” reflects more than location. The curation involved renderings, site visits, and ongoing tweaks. Some artists were longtime partners; others, like Howard, were recent finds.
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Visitors explore the exhibition without a set path. They might begin in the front field, move through the main level, then descend to the media room before stepping outside to the fire pit and pool. Artworks aren’t isolated but woven into a domestic story.
The collection spans wood, metal, ceramics, resin, and lighting—showing the region’s diverse creative output. Coleman pointed out that while the Hudson Valley is often linked to woodworking, its contemporary scene extends much further. “There’s a world-class design community here,” she noted.
The show turned the house into an active experience. “It gave the space purpose during marketing,” Tadj said. The exhibition’s closing date matches the home’s expected sale, but for now, it functions as a living gallery—combining architecture, art, and the area’s creative energy.
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“Sense of Place” focuses on how objects relate to their surroundings. Tadj observed, “Life in a house changes based on context.” The opening night, attended by over 100 guests, demonstrated this idea—transforming a private home into a shared space for exploration.
Proper storage ensures such artworks remain in good condition over time.
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