This project
seeks to re-examine the questions of context, materials, and place with the
design of this pool house.
The pressure to
maintain cohesiveness with the suburban context was present from the very
beginning. We took this as a challenge to wonder what pieces or elements could
we import from our surroundings into this pool house and, conversely, what
would this project give back. Working within the spirit of reciprocity, we used
traditional materials of masonry and wood (both present in the context) as well
as the profile of the ubiquitous highly pitched roof line. The pool house
design blends these traditional materials with subtle nuances of modern
influences. The brick is of the earth, grounding the structure, figuratively
and literally. The clerestory wrapping the spaces like a light-filled cloak is
of the sky, allowing natural light to permeate the interior spaces. The program
for this project is simple: a changing room/powder room; storage; and outdoor
bar area. With attention to clean detailing and thoughtful interweave of
materials, this project achieves the balance between referencing its context
while simultaneously speaking in its own voice.