Casco Bay Island Pool & Guest House

Our Casco Bay Island Retreat clients reached out to us again to design them a pool and guest house on their serene site. The desire for a multifunctional pool and guest house arose during the era of remote work induced by the global Covid pandemic. The retreat, designed as a work-from-home haven, encompasses a kitchen, an office doubling as a bedroom, and a dedicated guest space for moments of solitude.

Collaborating closely with landscape architect Matthew Cunningham, we sited the pool house to optimize solar angles, ensuring an abundance of afternoon sun during the summer months. Nestled south of the main house, the path through the woods from the main house connects the two, with the main house's back porch aligning with circulation to the pool.

Our architectural plan delineated intentional zones within the pool house. The office, positioned at the entrance on the northwest end, provides privacy from the busier areas, including the kitchen, laundry, bathroom, changing room, and sauna.

Constructed with white oak boards, the pool house exudes a warm and inviting atmosphere. The roofline, featuring an offset ridge dipping away from the pool, creates an elevated ceiling space. Expansive sliders and integrated wood finishes evoke the ambiance of a conditioned porch, blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living. A boardwalk extends the pool area, offering a fluid in-and-out experience when the sliders are open.

The main spaces are floored with thick concrete tiles, for a sturdy and durable finish. The design, conceived during the height of the pandemic, presented challenges in material sourcing and construction logistics, which the builder adeptly navigated.

The pool house was tailored to the needs of a family of four, including two daughters who are avid swimmers. Equipped with an outdoor kitchen, the space serves as a hub for hosting and creating memorable gatherings.

Our design of the exterior, featuring a standing seam metal roof and western hemlock siding, speaks the same design language as the main house. The careful selection of materials, including inset ipe boardwalk with a granite perimeter, ensures both functionality and aesthetic cohesion.

Casco Bay Island Retreat’s pool and guest house is a testament to thoughtful design and collaboration, offering a perfect blend of functionality, comfort, and a connection with the natural surroundings.
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Photography:
Trent Bell Photography
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Collaborators:‍

Builder: Maguire Construction 
Interior Designer: Kelly Healy, Belhaakon
Structural Engineer: Albert Putnam Associates
Landscape Architecture: Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design 
Landscape Installation: Sculptured Earth
Pool: South Shore Gunite Pools & Spas