Where many pool-building projects are only able to be used during the warmer months, a recent build in rural Accord, N.Y., looks otherwise. The 2,000-square-foot Gray Niva Pool House, designed by Gauthier Architects in 2021, was designed for year-round use, with each detail serving a purpose to maximize patrons’ experience no matter the time of year.
The structure itself can technically be categorized as a natatorium, since it is built around a pool rather than adjacent to it, but it still functions as an indoor/ outdoor pool experience, due to the innovative design of the pool house itself.
In the summer months, finding good lighting for a pool house is less difficult than in the colder winter months. The team at Gauthier Architects remedied this potential problem by using strategically placed skylights to invite sunlight into the pool house during even the darkest parts of the year.
The elliptical skylights are just two of the major openings that invite the Earth and sky inside, meant to “integrate the space holistically with the landscape,” according to the architects in a statement to ArchDaily. Paired with the south-facing, wall-sized glass door, there is no shortage of that inviting sensation from the outdoors.
Overall, the Gray Niva Pool House was built with a “dedication to green design and maintenance.” This was bolstered by the use of the angled roof and the skylights to take advantage of the seasonal angles of the sun, ensuring optimal light and heat in the pool house.
The south deck is not the only outdoor feature to this architectural masterpiece; a terrace on the east side is covered in teak, alongside a bench and a steel wood-burning grill to add to the atmosphere.
Every feature has a purpose in the Gray Niva Pool House, ensuring patrons can take complete advantage of the indoor and outdoor qualities of the space. This beautiful addition to the rural landscape in Accord, N.Y., is nothing short of sensational, and the year-round quality only adds to the spectacle.
Snow or shine, the Gray Niva Pool House welcomes you to experience the place where Earth and sky become one — all year round.
This article first appeared in the May 2025 issue of AQUA Magazine — the top resource for retailers, builders and service pros in the pool and spa industry. Subscriptions to the print magazine are free to all industry professionals. Click here to subscribe.
