The Art of Biophilic Design | The Atherton Pavilions by Feldman Architecture

Highly collaborative in nature, Feldman Architecture approaches design as a dialogue between client, design team and site, and is known for its sensitive projects woven into native landscapes. Feldman’s architects consider each project an opportunity to create an innovative solution that is relevant to the project environs and tailored to a clients’ specific needs. This Atherton project well-illustrated the firm’s process. 

“The site had many constraints,” admitted project architect Anjali Iyer. “First and foremost, the notable number of mature trees and root systems we wanted to preserve on the property, as well as the placement of the existing main house. The clients also wanted to preserve views from the main house out to the lush rear yard.”

With a goal of providing more usable outdoor areas without taking away from the indoor-outdoor relationships between the existing architecture and verdant gardens, the design team and the landscape design team at Thuilot Associates envisioned two pavilion structures, each delicately placed amidst the redwoods and other mature trees, blending with the softscape and creating a seamless transition between garden and structure. 

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The result? The Atherton Pavilions—two accessory structures, each richly detailed and intimately connected to the landscape. Identical in footprint, height and materials, one of the modest 450-square-foot structures serves as an outdoor kitchen and dining area while the other is a multifunctional space. Landscaping interventions unify the two pavilions with a water feature and decks that float off the accessory structures.

Situated next to the organically shaped pool, the kitchen pavilion acts as an extension of the pool and outdoor lounge area and features a pizza oven, grill and extensive storage that complements the new dining space. The second pavilion sits further back on the lot, and is a calm retreat space, serving as an ideal haven for yoga, exercise and meditation.

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Lifting the pavilions’ concrete foundations at the front and rear of each pavilion creates the illusion that the structures are floating over the lush landscaping. At either end of each pavilion, concrete returns back to the site, tying the structures back to the earth. The facades are wrapped in naturally weathering Alaskan yellow cedar slats that shroud each end of both structures, while screens help form trellises on the front and back. The wood screens serve each pavilion in contrasting ways, introducing privacy into the exercise and meditation pavilion, and a feeling of openness in the kitchen pavilion. The soft wood palette was selected to naturally weather and age, further easing the pavilions into their verdant surroundings. 

“It is worth noting that this project wrapped up right before the onset of COVID,” Iyer says. “It was gratifying that the pavilions ended up serving a greater purpose, providing the clients and their family with a meaningful outdoor space to not only enjoy themselves, but to safely host friends and family.”