Unbeknownst to most, there exists a unique village in upstate New York that is entirely constructed out of discarded materials. This one-of-a-kind village, called b-Home Studio, is a private property nestled at the foot of Vedder Mountain in the western part of Catskill. It is a fantastical sculpture park in the woods, described as a mythical repurposed city and a collaborative construction of small-scale vernacular, experimental, and visionary architecture samples, according to its owner, Matt Bua.
b-Home Studio has been the brainchild of 53-year-old installation artist Matt Bua since the mid-1990s. However, it wasn’t until 2006 that his dream came to life when he stumbled upon a plot of land in a Pennysaver and purchased it for $33,000. Since then, Bua and his creative-minded collaborators have tirelessly built over 30 structures on the sprawling 27-acre property over the course of 17 years.
Bua’s inspiration for creating b-Home came from his desire to create inhabitable spaces. He invited his friends to contribute to the project, resulting in a collaborative and ever-evolving collection of whimsical structures. Among these structures are a tiny tower with LPs for shingles, a bear made out of weaved barbed wire, a dirt-filled bunker called Cicada House, and a lowercase version of the classic A-frame home.
During the initial years of construction, Bua would commute from Brooklyn to live and work on the land, starting with a tent, then a shed, and eventually a cabin equipped with a wood stove. The property does not have plumbing or electricity, but Bua has made it functional with a compost toilet, generators, solar power, and access to a natural spring for water. Presently, he uses b-Home as a studio while residing in Palenville, where he lives with his wife, daughters, and two white horses on a 2-acre farm.
Despite its private nature, Bua is open to sharing b-Home with those who express interest and envisions it as an educational destination for enthusiasts interested in intuitive building, off-grid living, and indigenous stonework. He plans to offer formalized tours and retreats in the future. Bua values the act of sharing his creations with the public, not wanting to hoard them to himself.
In addition to b-Home Studio, Bua has left his artistic mark on the town of Catskill. He built a giant bobcat structure that served as the Catamount People’s Museum, and although it was taken down in 2016, his art is still displayed publicly, including a giant Rip Van Winkle head commemorating the story’s 200th anniversary. Bua also co-created the Catskill Flight Trail, a self-guided scavenger hunt that spans Greene County and ends at the Prattsville Art Center, where Bua’s installation, the Prankster Peoples’ Museum, features a massive replica of Lady Liberty’s head. Both b-Home and the Catskill Flight Trail are aimed at bringing people together through collaborative and interactive art experiences.
For Bua, the joy of his work lies not only in the end result but also in the journey itself. He cherishes the opportunity to construct these fun and unique buildings using various materials while constantly learning along the way. This little world of b-Home in Catskill embodies his creative spirit and invites others to join in the experience.
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