The Natatorium
New Construction
Tucked into the existing property’s landscape, the new pool house was designed as a natural extension of the historic main residence providing year-round functionality.
DNA was familiar with this property having worked on the main house interior renovation under a previous owner. The new owner swims daily and wanted a space that was both reflective and functional. They wanted the new addition to reflect the brick architectural vocabulary and the interior renovations completed within the house. Using the architectural language of the existing home, the natatorium connects to the property through a lower roofline and maintains the same brick exterior as the main house to visually unify the two buildings.
Connecting to the existing lower level presented both a challenge and an opportunity: it allowed the 58-by-16-foot rectangular pool to sit comfortably within the terrain, establishing an inviting, sheltered retreat that also connects to the backyard. Housing a large pool requires a significant volume, and the challenge on the exterior was to articulate the length of the building so that it related to the existing house with its defined gables and scale. The pool structure is orthogonal to the main house, and the concept was to create a natural lower-level courtyard.
The design team sought to break up the expansive volume of the space while introducing abundant natural light in a way that felt harmonious with the main house. To achieve this, a series of repeated gables echo the residence’s rhythm and proportions, balancing scale and symmetry. Warm lighting runs horizontally across the vaulted ceiling, creating soft lines, while clerestory windows draw the eye upward and allow natural light to delicately filter in.
Large windows and NanaWall doors flood the space with daylight, creating visual transparency and a direct connection to the surrounding landscape. Structural steel trusses clad in wood rise into the vaulted white ceiling, emphasizing the structure’s simple yet sophisticated geometry. The result is a year-round pool environment designed for both enjoyment and exercise, existing in perfect dialogue with the main home and its landscape.
Project team:
Builder: Thoughtforms
Landscape Architect: The MacDowell Company
Interior Design: Jessica Vaule
Photographer: Michael J Lee
