On a windswept spring morning in upstate New York, architect and educator Laura González Fierro surveys milkweed pods scattered across the fields of Strever Farm, her 60-acre property in Dutchess County. Purchased in 2020 alongside her husband, Philippe Petalas, the land was previously a horse breeding farm. Though initially focused on building a family home, González Fierro soon recognized the ecological significance of the milkweed—a critical plant for monarch butterfly reproduction—and the farm’s potential as a migratory refuge for the endangered species.

González Fierro’s path to Strever Farm traces back to her childhood in El Salvador, from which her family fled during the civil war. Settling in Mexico, she pursued architecture, earning an undergraduate degree from Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City and later a master’s from Columbia University in New York. Her career includes working for renowned architect Alberto Kalach and participating in international projects, such as the winning entry for Brazil’s pavilion at the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale.

Seeking a closer connection to nature, González Fierro and Petalas, a Swiss native working in financial services, relocated in 2019 from New York City to rural Pine Plains, New York. The couple chose raw land without infrastructure, prompting a two-year effort to install a well, power, and internet, carefully preserving the environment, including a century-old American elm tree central to the property’s landscape.

The original house design, inspired by Indigenous longhouses and featuring vaulted brick arches, was abandoned due to rising material costs. González Fierro responded by creating a new plan emphasizing energy efficiency and environmental integration. The 4,000-square-foot residence employs passive-house principles and sustainable materials, including engineered wood screens that allow airflow and filter natural light, enabling the structure to blend seamlessly into its surroundings.

Construction spanned several years with winter pauses, culminating in the family’s first night in the home over Memorial Day weekend 2025. Interior finishes were modest but thoughtfully chosen, with earthy hues and colors influenced by the Mexican modernist Luis Barragán. Windows are strategically placed to frame views of surrounding natural features, including the meadow and forest edge, making the changing seasons part of daily life.

Stewardship of the land has been integral to González Fierro’s vision. Collaborating with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, she has prioritized replacing invasive species with native plants to foster a supportive habitat for monarchs. The family actively removes weeds and invasive vines, dedicating weekends to this labor-intensive conservation work.

González Fierro also integrates her architectural and ecological interests into her academic work, teaching a course titled Farm + Land at Cornell University. She envisions Strever Farm evolving into an educational site aimed at raising awareness about ecosystem restoration. According to José Esparza Chong Cuy, executive director and chief curator of Storefront for Art and Architecture, where González Fierro serves on the board, the property embodies a lifelong commitment connecting environment and design.

While monarch sightings were sparse during the initial summer, recent seasons have seen increasing numbers of butterflies engaging robustly in their migratory patterns. González Fierro acknowledges that reviving an ecosystem is a long-term endeavor but remains optimistic and resolute in her efforts to ensure the property serves as a vibrant refuge for wildlife and a meaningful home for her family.