One with Nature

A private retreat is upgraded with two new structures immersed in the landscape.

Within a sweep of mature trees sloping gently to the bay, a private retreat speaks to a vision of harmony between the built and natural environment. Led by Nicholaeff Architecture + Design, Hawk Design, and JW Construction, the enhanced landscape features two new contemporary buildings: a pool house and a yoga studio.

The architecture was inspired by the natural landscape itself, where transparency and openness are embraced. “Rather than follow the colonial architecture of the main house, we chose to create open, transparent structures that nestle in the trees and hover above the land,” says Doreve Nicholaeff, Principal at Nicholaeff Architecture + Design. The designs read as warm yet modern, uncluttered structures immersed in the trees. “The buildings are simple and have an intimate relationship with nature,” Nicholaeff describes.

To illuminate the surrounding landscape, both structures feature NanaWalls framed in bronzed metal with matching trim. “The use of NanaWalls define these two structures, not only giving them their distinctive character but also creating spaces that literally sit, or in the case of the yoga studio, float in nature,” notes Nicholaeff. Clad in natural materials, the walls and decks are crafted with IPE wood, with copper standing seam sloped roofs and deep overhangs. “Bronze recalls the trees, and the copper roof will patina with age, blending into one composition,” Nicholaeff notes. Though complementary, the two spaces offer distinct nuances.

The pool house features a series of interconnected spaces for post-swim recreation. “We wanted the flow between all of the outdoor spaces to be contiguous and not tedious,” says David Hawk, President of Hawk Design, who highlights the property’s flow of connected terraces. From a circular outdoor shower with freshwater pearl stone flooring to a lower deck under an open pergola, the progression leads to a seating area beneath a copper roof with a central skylight.

The yoga studio takes a particularly immersive approach, suspended among the treetops with a cantilevered deck embracing an oak tree on one side and offering vast water views on the other. “The yoga studio was an opportunity to visually touch the water,” says Hawk. “We preserved all of the trees around it so that it really felt like you were up high looking at the view.” Offering another viewing platform, the roof of the studio serves as an additional deck.

Practical considerations of environmental sustainability were paramount in the design of both buildings. “The yoga studio has a complex structural undercarriage so as not to disturb the coastal embankment,” says Paul Pfeiffer, Director of Operations at JW Construction. Both structures utilize a geothermal system for heating and cooling, and the pool house incorporates solar panels, ensuring energy efficiency throughout the year. 

Architect: Nicholaeff Architecture + Design

Construction: JW Construction

Landscape Architecture: Hawk Design

Photography: Michael J. Lee