American studio Roger Ferris + Partners has tucked a bar-shaped volume that contains a swimming pool into a grassy hill overlooking a tidal estuary in Connecticut.

Located in the village of Westport, the building is nestled into a property that faces the Long Island Sound. The owners desired a pool house that would serve as a quiet counterpart to their shingle-style house nearby.
Local practice Roger Ferris + Partners created a long bar that is tucked into a grassy berm, making it barely visible from certain vantage points. A green roof further helps the building merge with the landscape.

"Set into a subtle incline just before the land drops off to meet the beachfront, it is almost invisible as one approaches from the main entrance of the estate," the studio said. The front door is on the north side, where two concrete retaining walls fan outward to form an entrance. The "only hint of what lies below" is a series of skylights rising above the hill, Roger Ferris + Partners added.

A long, glass wall on the southern elevation delivers expansive views of the water and ushers in daylight. A patio is sheltered by an aluminium trellis, which casts dramatic shadows throughout the day.

The interior is divided into several zones. The eastern side has a living space with contemporary furnishings and a colourful tapestry by the British artist Grayson Perry.

A glazed partition separates this sitting area from the building's centrepiece ? a turquoise pool stretch...