Photos by David Stansbury
Watercolor sketches by Rachael Alexander Chase

In order to open the building up as much as possible, for both light and ventilation, there is a series of large doors on both long sides of the building. The door series appears punched into the siding, which stands off of the building as a rain screen and there is trim anywhere on the building.

The clerestory could be realized by sloping the roof at shallow pitches up from a single low point, reaching in either direction like the stretch of arms to either side; the forward motion of the butterfly stroke of the swimmer. The clerestory also exposes the structure of the building: Douglas fir studs four feet on center.

By exposing the studs and configuring a detail that allowed the insulated glass to fit up into a slot between boards at the division of the exterior soffit and interior ceiling, the ceiling/soffit mass appears to be continuous, resting upon the studs at the points 4' on center.

At the low point of the two roof slopes, alternating pieces of siding are cut away to expose a glass panel. Additionally, two lone pieces of siding rise above the solid screen of siding, spaced to filter the clerestory light.

The point at which the two roof slopes joined together is the point at which all water drains off of the roof of the building. A copper scupper is designed to carry water away from the building and spill it off, onto a stone below.

The pool is official length; 75'-1" long, by 8'-0" wide, and 4'-0" deep at each end, sloping down to 6'-0" deep in the center. All mechanicals are be enclosed in one 8'-6" x 15'-1" room at the East end of the building.

The bath is divided into three areas, open to each other and separated from the pool room by a pocket door that floated above the floor by 18". The three functions within the bath space would define the areas. The sink is centrally located, with a concrete countertop and integral concrete basin, a soap dish dipped out of the stone to one side, and a copper faucet. The faucet directly relates to the roof scupper; both allowing water to spill off and in a beautiful way. The pocket door between the two areas provides privacy, or can remain open, allowing another layer of depth. The large mirror that covers the wall above the sink doubles the length of the building in its reflection.

The pocket door would be made with a wood frame and a panel of sanded Plexiglas that would allow shadows to show through from one side to the other but no details to be seen. By floating the door, we would allow feet and legs to be exposed while the body above the knees was shielded from view.

Standing at the foot of the pool, the ceiling would slope down just beyond reach and then swoop up again, stretching down the length of the building and out into the view beyond.

From outside, the full length of the building is exposed, stretching into the distance. At the corners, each piece of siding meets that of the next side, exposed.

16 Call Road • Colrain, Massachusetts 01340 • 413-624-9669 • office@austindesign.biz