Mark Kaufman, Principal at GTM Architects, has been prominently featured in Aspire Design & Home for his outstanding work on pool areas that bring a splash of style. Reported by Kelsey Mulvey and beautifully captured through the lens of Stacy Zarin Goldberg.

Architecture’s quiet brilliance often appears at the meeting point of contrast and harmony. For homeowners seeking a pool pavilion beside their traditional residence, GTM Architects translated that tension into a dialogue of modern lines and natural materials.

Principal Mark Kaufman’s vision centered on warm elegance: stone, mahogany, glass and metal. A cantilevered roof floats above natural stone, sheltering an outdoor shower and living zone that flow together as one continuum. Inside, textures stay honest—wood, stone, steel—allowing the landscape’s greenery to do the ornamenting.

“We wanted to complement the landscaping with a contemporary structure that uses natural materials… connecting the exterior and interior with intentionality and function.”—Mark Kaufman

Beyond visual contrast, the project demonstrates a broader shift in residential design toward biophilic connection and seamless thresholds. Studies have shown that natural materials and daylight can enhance well-being and deepen a sense of place, reinforcing the psychological comfort that comes from proximity to nature [Harvard Health Publishing, 2022]. And as contemporary additions become more common alongside traditional and historic homes, thoughtful restraint—materiality, palette, and scale—remains key to creating harmony rather than disruption.

Classic Colonial, designed by GTM Principal, Mark Kaufman, is also featured in the article.

Explore the full story on Aspire Design & Home. See project images below.