In the property of a rural Warwickshire home, the Malvern Pool House was designed by studio Klas Hyllén Architecture as a perfect complement to the property’s existing Arts & Crafts inspired main home. Made of clay brick, the two interconnected volumes house a swimming pool and relaxation spaces angled toward the surrounding landscape. Fitted with numerous openings that illuminate swimmers from overhead and generous windows, the pool house embraces a minimalist aesthetic through its rich materials and detailing.
Under the larger volume’s soaring cathedral-like diagram ceiling is a 1.4-meter deep swimming pool, illuminated overhead by a nine-meter skylight that offers glimpses of blue skies during the day or starlight at night. “The space is a sensory experience,” says Klas Hyllén Architecture. “We think it is visually stunning, but the experience really comes to life in person — it’s all about the senses, the acoustics, temperature, tactility, and the smell of water on brick which gives off this very pleasant mineral, almost monastic scent.”
Showers, dressing rooms, and a small area for meditation are found in the ancillary building. This smaller structure is linked directly to the main house through a timber fin glazed corridor which helps define a courtyard to the north. Underneath is a basement that contains a plant room, overflow tank, and a wine cellar.
To boost energy efficiency, the pool house was equipped with super-insulated roofs and walls along with an airtight structure that minimised the demand of such a high-energy space. “The air handling unit is the beating heart of this, ensuing a constant temperature at about 29 degrees and humidity at about 55%,” the studio says. “We love the interplay with the natural surroundings, and the joy of being part of the landscape.”
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