The centerpiece of the park is the five-story Spiral House, designed by artist Tom Gottsleben as the home he shared with his wife, Patty Livingston. The house literally grows out of the land. Sited on what was a chaotic heap of rubble from the abandoned bluestone quarry, the spiral walls gave the stone a new home with a deep connection to the surrounding landscape.
The curves of the house follow the golden proportions of the nautilus shell. Different from every perspective, the walls and roofline turn in a dynamic sweep around the central column. Wherever you stand, there is both movement and stillness.
The spiral is created by flat wall sections joined at slight angles. Each of the fifty-two walls gets narrower and taller as the structure spirals toward the center, turning two and a quarter times to create the interior living space. A form that is both flat and curved, walls that shrink and grow at the same time — this union of opposites was central to Gottsleben’s work.
The sinuous curve of the chimney meanders up the wall, suggesting the shape of smoke rising. The ammonite fossil centered above the hearth is surrounded by a geometric spiral displaying the range of colors found in bluestone — from light blue gray to deep bluish purple. The yellows, reds, oranges, and browns develop as the iron oxide in the stone is exposed to water and weather over time.
At the center of the house is the spiral staircase, a sculptural marvel of highly polished stainless steel and translucent glass. The stair treads radiate out from the central column, the hub of the cosmic wheel given architectural form. Light from the fifth-floor observation room travels through the entire stairwell, creating a column of light that animates the house.
The observation room was designed to be a place of contemplation and serenity, connecting the quiet at our core with the vastness of space. A balcony opens to a breathtaking panoramic view of Overlook Mountain and the entire Catskill Range.
