Bluebell Pool House

A Garden Retreat for Family Living

Bluebell Pool House transforms a redundant tennis court into a contemporary garden pavilion that supports family life, recreation and outdoor living. Designed as a discreet addition to a private home near Winchester, the building sits quietly within its landscape, creating a destination that can be enjoyed throughout the year without competing with the surrounding countryside.

Positioned alongside a new outdoor swimming pool and carefully screened by mature trees, the pavilion strengthens the connection between the house and its garden while preserving open views across the adjoining fields.

A Journey Through the Landscape

Approached via a raised timber walkway from the main house, the building is gradually revealed as visitors move through the garden. This simple sequence creates a sense of arrival, transforming the short walk to the pool into an experience in itself.

The single-storey pavilion is deliberately understated in form, allowing the surrounding landscape to remain the focus. Inside, flexible spaces for relaxation, exercise and changing support both everyday family life and entertaining, creating a natural extension of the garden.

Materiality

A restrained palette of natural materials allows the building to sit comfortably within its setting. Oak cladding introduces warmth and texture, while the simple rectilinear form creates a calm architectural presence that complements rather than dominates the landscape.

Large areas of glazing connect the interior with the pool terrace and gardens beyond, bringing natural light deep into the building and reinforcing the relationship between indoor and outdoor living.

Designed for Sustainability

Sustainability informed the design from the outset. A highly insulated building envelope, air source heat pump and extensive sedum roof work together to reduce operational energy demand while improving biodiversity and softening the building's visual impact within the garden.

The pavilion was constructed using prefabricated cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels, enabling a fast, efficient construction process while reducing material waste and supporting a low-carbon approach to building.

The result is a contemporary garden building that combines sustainable design with relaxed family living, creating a place to exercise, unwind and enjoy the landscape throughout the seasons.