Cooper, Robertson & Partners Architecture, Urban Design

Pool Houses

New York

In the photo at right, the white pool house echoes the white federal-style architecture of the main house on the property. In plan, the building is a square turned 45-degrees off-axis, capped with a tight pyramid roof, and attached to the white dowel-fence which encircles the pool area and continues around the pool house wrapping it as its outer skin. Inside, there is a single changing room with two oversized moon-gate windows providing light and views out to the woods.

In the next photo, a dressing room, shower, and powder room are accommodated in the modestly scaled but elegantly conceived pool house. The architecture takes its cues from the main house, which was inspired by 19th Century Russian dachas, book-ending the pool compound off the guest wing of the house. Painted white and saffron and handsomely lit, it is a visual delight day and night.

The pool pavilion in the third and last photo is a Caribbean inspired jewel, painted white so as to be a cooling presence, on axis with the rectangular lap pool. It is a visual terminus to the pool axis and provides respite from the sun: the latticed side walls give shade and block winds while also allowing views out, catching light, and casting delightful shadow patterns.