Swimming Pool House by Re-Format in Haslemere, UK

Project: Swimming Pool House
Architects: Re-Format
Location: Haslemere, UK
Area: 2,690 sq ft
Photography: Martin Gardner

Swimming Pool House by Re-Format

The swimming pool house is an independent ancillary building located at the edge of Surrey Hills in Haslemere. It was designed to provide an internal swimming pool, spa zone, gym, bike workshop and greenhouse. It had to be beautiful, meticulously crafted and made from high-quality materials. The design was also expected to seamlessly integrate into the sensitive site, complement the surrounding environment and create a positive relationship with the main house in terms of scale, form and appearance.

The swimming pool house has a low profile and is constructed from natural materials such as copper, limestone and oak, creating a warm and harmonious palette. The building is equipped with lift-up glass panels that provide connection to the garden and extensive roof glazing which fills the pool with daylight and views of the sky. The design approach balanced creativity and rational thinking, emphasizing clarity and attention to detail.

The mature and secluded site is located at the edge of Surrey Hills in Haslemere, offering spectacular long views across the Southern Downs and beyond.

The client wanted an independent ancillary building adjacent to the existing house, providing an internal swimming pool and spa zone, gym, bike workshop and greenhouse. Everything had to be beautiful, meticulously crafted at every level using high-quality materials. The swimming pool house was expected to function flawlessly in various conditions — whether it's a relaxing solo swim or a family pool party for 30 people.

It was important that the building seamlessly integrates into the sensitive site, complements the surrounding environment and especially creates a positive relationship with the main house in terms of scale, form and appearance. The swimming pool house has a low profile to meet planning restrictions and is positioned on a simple line relative to the main house, creating dialogue and forming a more complete arrival space.

The existing corner of the plot was underutilized despite its prominent position along the approach to the house. A simple stone cladding was used to reorient this part of the garden and create dialogue with the existing house. The stone wall ends in a new greenhouse, featuring a picture window that creates a display case within the greenhouse — a requirement of the client to be able to see from the main house kitchen.

The design was developed as a simple form with a copper roof and adjacent service areas in a low element covered with sedum, all bounded by continuous stone cladding. The modern design uses rich natural materials that create a warm and subordinate palette (copper, limestone, oak), harmonizing with the local architecture. Generous lift-up glass panels provide connection to the garden and views of nature beyond; extensive roof glazing fills the pool with daylight and sky views.

Re-Format's approach to the project was centered on a process of clarity — balancing creativity and rational thinking. The creative design required strict analysis and attention to detail emerging from plot constraints and project specifics.

–Re-Format