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P R O F I L E | T D O A R C H I T E C T U R E
B
uilt at the base of the family
garden, Forest Pond House
is a composition of both form
and feeling—a modern cabin
fashioned for clarity, located
in a complex environment. "The [kids']
den felt like it needed to be a secretive,
secluded space in the woods, whereas
the break in the forest and tranquility
that the pond presents was a natural
moment for the meditation space,"
notes Lewith. To that end, the rear of
the structure, with low ceilings tucked
among bushes and trees, hosts the den.
As one moves through the curve of the
building, Lewith notes, the "meditation
spot opens up; the floor drops and
the ceiling rises to create a tall portrait
window and seat cantilevering over the
water." It is a window into a world of both
rare and real beauty, and architectural
purity. To integrate play into the space,
TDO treated two walls with blackboard
paint to create what Lewith describes
as "a drawing backdrop in the woods."
Next to this feature, the entrance
presents one with the chance to run in
and out of the building in spontaneous
exuberance. Meanwhile, Lewith notes,
"Views across the pond connect [the
building] to the rest of the woods. It's
a space for the imagination to run free."
The large portrait window frames the
picturesque scene and "deliberately
crops peripheral vision, creating a
space for calm and focus," adds
42 DIGS.NET
| 10.4.24
