Boundary Pool House

This pool house is conceived as a sculptural addition to a historic Seattle estate, designed to provide a serene summer retreat for a young family. The architecture strikes a balance between the traditional character of the original 1930s residence and a more modern, minimalist sensibility. By utilizing a traditional palette of hand-applied stucco siding and a classic slate hip roof, the structure establishes an immediate material connection with the main house, ensuring the new intervention feels like a permanent and respectful evolution of the property.

The design logic is defined by a monolithic form that has been strategically "carved out" to create functional and atmospheric voids. A central arched portal serves as the primary transition, leading into the interior zone that blurs the line between indoor and outdoor space. This subtraction of mass continues with a dramatic central light well, which remains entirely open to the sky. This vertical aperture allows natural light to wash down the textured zellige tiled walls throughout the day and provides a direct, framed connection to the surrounding wooded canopy and the changing Pacific Northwest sky.

Functional amenities are seamlessly integrated into these carved volumes - the restroom and changing room are hidden, while a minimalist outdoor shower and pedestal wash basin are tucked into the carved alcoves. The finishes are a a tonal and neutral palette that emphasize the play on light and shadows. Nestled between the main house and woods, the pool house is able to anchor the pool while integrating seamlessly into the greater estate.