Images: Eric Petschek / Pia Winther
Johnston Marklee has completed the Vipp Pavilion, a 1,000 square foot scheme set within a forested site in Lumberland, Upstate New York. Positioned at the edge of a pond and surrounded by dense woodland, the project is conceived as a compact intervention that engages closely with its natural setting.
Images: Eric Petschek / Pia Winther
Images: Eric Petschek / Pia Winther
The pavilion’s form is defined by two tangent ellipses, a geometry that references the contours of the adjacent water body. Constructed using a combination of smooth and ribbed stucco, the building reads as a sculptural volume within the landscape. Entry is mediated through a curved courtyard, leading into a central skylit space with concrete floors and textured walls. This primary interior volume opens outward to views of the pond and the surrounding meadow.
Images: Eric Petschek / Pia Winther
Images: Eric Petschek / Pia Winther
Two bedrooms are embedded within the curved plan, each oriented to frame views of the garden through large mahogany-framed windows. Overhead, three skylights introduce controlled natural light, producing shifting patterns of illumination throughout the day.
Images: Eric Petschek / Pia Winther
Images: Eric Petschek / Pia Winther
The interior palette is informed by the surrounding environment, incorporating tones derived from seasonal variations in the Upstate landscape. Materials include timber elements in sapele wood, travertine surfaces, and soft furnishings that contribute to a restrained, tactile atmosphere. Floor-to-ceiling glazed openings further reinforce the visual continuity between interior and exterior.
Images: Eric Petschek / Pia Winther
Images: Eric Petschek / Pia Winther
Landscape design by Larry Weaner Landscape Associates integrates the building into a pastoral meadow setting. Native plantings and a green roof establish ecological continuity, extending the surrounding terrain across the structure while supporting low-maintenance, site-responsive design strategies.
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