In 1974, Robert Haney and David Ballantine put Woodstock architecture on the map with the publication of Woodstock Handmade Houses. This charming book documents the magical and makeshift homes of Aquarian Age homebuilders who sought to upend conformist architecture with their Buckminster Fuller-inspired domes, nomadic yurts, and thatched hobbit cottages straight from Tolkein. (See if you can snag a copy at the 87th annual Woodstock Library Fair on July 28.) While some of these experimental structures still stand—a drive through the woods surrounding the village often yields surprising sights in this regard—Woodstock's architectural vernacular has evolved with its residents into a more mature, elegant style. For 10 years, the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild has offered tours of the town's most stylish and spectacular homes, where visitors can sneak a peak at the architecture, gardens, interiors, and art collections of local residents whose homes mirror the tranquility and natural splendor of the Catskills. The self-guided tour takes place on July 14, from 11am to 4pm. A benefit cocktail party follows from 5 to 7pm. (845) 679-2079.
