Nestled within the forest clearing sits a trio of structures that stand proud while remaining grounded to their surrounding context. Their siting and massing were deliberately crafted to use the least amount of land area and interior head room clearance so that the overall presence of the architecture would remain secondary to the site.

Organization of the of the required programmatic elements was driven by the intended procession into the site. Simply put, two masonry living quarters are meant to stand as two datum points held together by a permeable veil that serves as a threshold into the remainder of the site. Once through the veil, visitors are encouraged to meander into the site and onto the more intimate spa-like environments that sit adjacent to the the pond.

Materiality plays an important role in this proposal both in its conceptual relationship to the product and its environmental implications. Handmade brick from Denmark would be specified for living quarters to not only serve as s visual reference to blue clay but also as thermal mass for a ductless heating system for the winter months. During the summer months, large sliding windows would serve as a means for passive cooling. Connecting the two masonry structures will be a light weight veil composed of repetitive timber members held together by exposed metal sheets. As for the bath and spa spaces, the overall structure is intended to be a lightweight steel structure cladded in charred wood siding which will hover above the pond.

Year 2017

Status Unrealised proposals

Type Parks, Public Gardens / Single-family residence / Multi-family residence / Country houses/cottages / Wellness Facilities/Spas / Leisure Centres / Chalets, Mountains houses