SIGNAL

People

Forest Pavilion was designed for two avid gardeners and professional landscapers who spend much of their lives outdoors. Their intimate relationship with the land shaped every decision, from site placement to material reuse. Their brief was for a structure that wasn’t separate from the forest, but one that deepened the homeowner’s connection to it. The home supports the rhythms of daily life — messy boots, wet coats, planting tools — and remains resilient to the seasonal shifts that come with being in constant conversation with nature.

Architecture

The home’s siting preserves the forest as much as possible — the disturbance radius is limited to five feet from the house. Instead of clearing land, the building tucks into knolls and folds of the site, embracing tree roots, stumps, and soft pine-needle floor. Gravel paths and boulders inform the driveway’s meandering line, the covered entryway invites the sound of rain, and the butterfly roof transforms downpours into sculptural water features. Space is used carefully: social areas are generous, while retreat spaces are minimal. Durable materials and weather-aware design ensure the house holds up to daily life — and celebrates it.

Research

The project is a study in designing with, not on top of, nature. It models low-impact construction, using FSC-certified wood, local materials sourced within 500 miles, and high-performance systems like radiant heating and energy-efficient glazing. The landscape informed the design at every step, with lessons drawn from working the land rather than reshaping it.