Upstate New York Pool House, Accord, NY

2000 sf

Working with Gauthier Architects, the couple set out to design a natatorium: a pool house designed for year-round use. They envisioned a pool and spa that could transition effortlessly with the seasons: fully enclosed in winter yet open to the outdoors in summer. A dramatic 35x15-foot hangar door makes this possible. In warm weather, the entire wall lifts to connect the pool with the lawn, deck, sitting area, and grill. In cold months, the insulated door seals the space, retaining warmth while still flooding it with sunlight and views. Two large elliptical skylights add another dimension of natural light, reinforcing the connection to the outdoors.

More than a pool house, the natatorium serves as a year-round retreat for recreation, exercise, and family life. Inside, the space includes the pool and deck, changing facilities, showers, a bar, and a utility room with geothermal systems and pool equipment.

Outdoors, the house extends its hospitality. Beyond the south-facing deck lies an east-facing terrace with a teak-paneled wall, built-in seating, and a steel wood-burning grill, all shaded by the directionally angled roofline. The roofline shapes outdoor living and also frames views across the aerated pond, further integrating the whole site.

From the outset, sustainability guided the design. A geothermal hydronic system heats and cools both the pool and the house, while a dehumidifying system captures warm, moist air and recycles it as usable heat. Openings are strategically oriented to maximize natural light, heat, and airflow, and the super-insulated structure ensures efficient temperature control. Industrial yet refined materials—corrugated galvannealed siding, galvanized steel studs, mass-plywood diagrid structural panels, rough-cut local bluestone flooring, marine-grade teak wall panels, raw porcelain hex tiles, and baby-blue epoxy finishes on exposed steel—balance character with durability

The result is a space that adapts across seasons, offering light-filled warmth in winter and shaded openness in summer. Blending recreation, hospitality, and nature, the natatorium realizes the owners’ vision of a shared retreat.

dwg 1

dwg 2

dwg 3

dwg 4

dwg 5

dwg 6

dwg 7

dwg 8

dwg 9

dwg 10

DESIGN TEAM

Randy Armas, Michael Hoehn, Mel Loyola Agosto, Christopher Tomasetti

CONSULTING ENGINEER

Buro Happold - Cristobal Correa, Ana Serra

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

Hoffmann-Brandt Projects

CONSTRUCTION MANAGER

John Gates

PHOTOGRAPHY

Naho Kubota and Amy Barkow Photo