marc thorpe designs a serene upstate pavilion suspended over a crystal lake

a remote crystal lake in the west catskills

Marc Thorpe Design introduces its Crystal Lake Pavilion, a concept proposed for the West Catskills region of New York. The surrounding area, a 497-acre wild forest, is occupied by a thirty two-acre man-made lake, seeps and streams, wetland areas and a beaver pond. Describing the area, Marc Thorpe tells designboom: ‘The lake shore and surrounding moist woodland provide habitats for trilliums, wild leeks, Jack-in-the-pulpits and Dutchman’s britches.’

Surrounded by rolling hills, the area is home to indigenous flora and fauna, including hundreds of species of plants, flowers, trees, wildlife and insects. The New York-based architect continues: ‘

The Crystal Lake Pavilion is designed to be used for meditation and yoga classes as well as group therapy.’

visualizations © Truetopia | @_truetopia_

the floating pavilion by marc thorpe

In celebration of its remote natural context, the site-specific Crystal Lake Pavilion by Marc Thorpe Design is only accessible by boat, while the proposal is wrapped in a transparent glass skin to showcase the beauty of its surroundings. Constructed with a traditional King Post timber frame, the structure will comprise heavy timbers elements that have been joined together via lap joints and pegged mortise and tenon joints. Its roof will take shape with light steel connections and a standing seam steel roof.

The defining element of the pavilion is a central post, which is suspended from a single concrete pier in the lake bed. Its triangular roof, mirroring the lake surface, gives the illusion of weightlessness, as the pavilion appears to hover above the water.

the triangular roof is reflected in the mirror lake

a transparent structure showcases nature on all sides

the remote pavilion is only accessible by boat

heavy timber structural elements contrast the lightweight, glass skin

project info:

project title: Crystal Lake Pavilion

architecture: Marc Thorpe Design | @marcthorpedesign

location: Catskills, New York

visualizations: © Truetopia | @_truetopia_