An incredible amount of work goes into the illusion of effortlessness. Take the pool house that Merrell Soule Architects designed in Sagaponack, whose refined detailing and mathematical craftsmanship earned it the nickname of The Pure Architectural Temple. “When you think of the most graceful type of building there is, it’s a temple,” muses architect Janara Garcia Soule. “And for these clients, this really is a sanctuary.”
The program centers around a living area wrapped in bifold windows that, when open, stack into tidy-as-a-pin columns, creating the effect of an open-air pavilion. “Sliding doors tend to pocket and require more solid wall space,” explains Garcia Soule. “We wanted to create a real inside-outside experience, and these windows are the main event.” A bar, full bath and laundry room tuck away at the rear of the building, while a subterranean level hosts a state-of-the-art gym and sauna. Quiet, perfect details throughout—from ultra-slim plank cedar siding to insect screens that disappear into the ceiling—create a visual calm that might just merit the word divine.
Architects James Merrell, Steve Soule and Janara Garcia Soule collaborated on this modern pool house inspired by Palladian principles. Interiors by Pepe Lopez, build by Cardel Development and grounds by LaGuardia Design Group.
