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The existing Macael marble counters were polished to restore its original appearance. The cabinets were refinished, and additional tiles installed to accommodate a new opening for the fridge. The sink was relocated, and the space left by the old sink was replaced with a built-in wooden cutting board. The floors are terrazzo.

Before: The kitchen was a narrow aisle and the modern refrigerator protruded into the circulation.

In the living room, the glass coffee table is designed by Miguel Milá, and the Cadaqués armchair by Correa & Milá is a bespoke design that originated with this house.

Before: Many of the standalone furniture pieces are also by the original firm, including the dining table by Miguel Milá and the dining chairs by Correa & Milá.

Before: The goal of the renovation, undertaken by Rumeu and his cousin, the owner, was to be minimally invasive to the original hexagon structure, with the exposed woodwork and built-ins.

Floor plan of Forest Pavilion by Signal Architecture & Research

Tucked into one end of the garage, a potting area is a favorite of Joan, who is an avid gardener and plant lover. The design team used leftover cedar from the ceilings to create the work surface.

A simple, hardscaped back patio is the site of many summer parties. The steps lead down to the firepit, where one feels increasingly embraced by the forest.

Butterfly rooflines help guide water into the channels that lead to the downspouts.

Nestled into the trees, the modern home blends with its surroundings, following the site’s contours as if it were another wild thing sprung from the ground.

The roofs were designed to guide water to the steel channels, which run the entire width of the house. Joan’s painting studio sits nears the back door, where she can easily step out for fresh air or inspiration.

At the back of the house, an extended steel downspout is positioned over a boulder to create a waterfall every time it rains. Over the years, moss will grow on the stone, further propagating the local plant life.

Joan’s main request, aside from a single-level residence, was that she would feel like she was “outside in and inside out” at all times. A sliding glass wall system along the back of the house lets her and Ken open their dining room up to the surrounding forest.

The open-plan public zone, which includes the kitchen, dining area, and living room, looks out onto the back patio, where the dining table is often wheeled in the summer for al fresco meals. Ken and Joan regularly have 10-20 guests over, so she requested enough space in the dining area to put another table if needed.

In the primary bathroom, the skylight aligns perfectly with the floating vanity below, letting in an abundance of natural daylight and creating geometric shadows on the walls.

In the primary bathroom, a simple palette of concrete floors and dark-stained cedar falls to the background, allowing the trees and stumps outside—seen through a purposefully placed window—to take center stage.

The primary bedroom was kept simple—a bed, nightstands, and a set of chairs—to maximize the forest’s presence.

Cedar ceilings throughout are a nod to the cedars in the old-growth forest surrounding the house. A window over the sink gives the homeowners a peek-a-boo view to the front of their house, so they can catch glimpses of foliage, even while washing the dishes.

For the living room, Dovetail’s metal shop fabricated a custom fireplace to go between the Quantum windows. The steel surround is coated in an antique black finish to complement the stained cedar wall.