Poolside
Orchestrating movement, light and sound, Poolside seeks to enhance personal wellbeing. Designed by Jolson, the new pool, wellness retreat and kitchen embody the highlights of a private residence.
Housed in a 20th-century home with classic proportions, Poolside steers family life towards mindfulness and self-care. As well as offering luxury amenities separate from the primary living areas, the addition celebrates the transformative quality of water, including its ability to promote daily rituals and calm the nervous system. To reach the pool, residents must first cross the existing home, beginning with a generous foyer that branches into the formal lounge, study and dining rooms. These lead to the more relaxed living, kitchen and dining areas settled within an open floor plan. Natural light enters the interiors through both the northern garden, where the verdant greenery fosters a sense of privacy, and the southern courtyard, which is complete with outdoor seating. The new wing is positioned between the two spaces and features a 25-metre pool, followed by a spa bath, steam room, entertainment area and theatre.
Mostly subterranean, Poolside uses its enclosure to evoke the experience of being submerged in water. The walls of the pool area are topped with a trough that allows water to cascade down the stone surfaces. During the day, the reflected natural light shimmers across the ceiling, creating an image like the water’s surface when viewed from below. The combination of the gentle visuals and soft soundscape – consisting of running water and a light echo – is central to the soothing spatial character. Natural stone unites the underground zones while providing a geometric counterpoint to the water. Throughout the pool area, the stone is presented as an elegant mosaic running from the floor to the ceiling.
The kitchen carries the warm, minimalist language of the pool and wellness area into a highly functional cooking space. Centring a monolithic island, the interior design showcases a Henge light fitting cast from bronze and brass. The custom piece establishes an intimate environment that coheres with the formal dining room without compromising on the flexibility of a family kitchen. A broader material palette of stone, bronze and timber enhances the remainder of the space, illuminated by natural light entering through a large window. This window overlooks the southern courtyard while maintaining visual connection to the pool entrance.
Through texture, sound and reflected light, Poolside offers an encompassing environment that enables self-development. With a subtle approach to multisensory design, Jolson ensures that residents can embrace the luxury of mindful living.
Architecture and interior design by Jolson. Build by Krongold Group. Landscape design by Paul Bangay.
