The Whitefish Poolhouse designed by Cushing Terrell is perched on a steep slope high above Whitefish Lake. Contemporary in aesthetic, the program includes a 75-foot-long, single-lane lap pool, a Japanese soaking tub, a changing/shower area, an exercise room and an art gallery. Photography by Audrey Hall

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The poolhouse complex appears as a small collection of stucco-clad buildings situated along the hillside, nesting themselves into the contours where appropriate, but boldly contrasting the grades by extending portions of the building out over the steep slope. A zen garden adjoins the lap pool. The stand-alone bathhouse features an infinity edge, custom-designed limestone soaking tub. Water overflow drains into a drain filled with river rocks. “The window wall folds away, opening on to a landscape that is both controlled and natural,” notes Cushing Terrell principal David Koel of the view from the tub. Long-lasting teak and limestone are used for flooring. The green roof elements host a moss garden punctuated by limestone pavers.