How Do You Add a 58-Foot Lap Pool to a 1929 Tudor Home?
If you're a Belmont homeowner, you hire an architect to create a one-story pool house—and maybe get a swan.
Architect: Doreve Nicholaeff Architecture. Builder: Thoughtforms. Photo stylist: Sean Willam / Photo by Michael J. Lee
The Challenge
The homeowner of this gracious 1929 English Tudor Revival deeply respected the original architectural character of the brick residence, which blends Tudor hallmarks with subtle French Norman details. But she also had a decidedly modern goal: an indoor lap pool large enough for daily swimming, usable year round, and visually connected to the landscape. The challenge was how to introduce a sizable new structure without disrupting the home’s history or sense of balance.
The Solution
Architect Doreve Nicholaeff, who had previously renovated the house for a former owner, was brought back to design the addition at the rear of the property. Set at a lower level, the one-story pool house is accessed via elevator and a discreet vestibule, creating a quiet transition from the main residence. Inside, however, the space opens dramatically. Exposed wood beams trace a rigorously geometric ceiling, designed with origami-like precision. Clerestory windows in the two gables funnel in natural light, while integrated cove lighting accentuates the architecture. Though the 58-by-16-foot pool is made for serious swimming, the atmosphere remains warm and serene. Shiplap-clad ceilings and finely detailed joinery prevent the size from feeling overwhelming. In warmer months, 8-foot-tall doors open to the outdoors, reinforcing the sense that this striking addition has always belonged.
This article was first published in the print edition of the March 2026 issue with the headline: “Everybody Into the Pool (House).”
