Egremont, MA

PROSPECT LAKE SITE PLAN

This landscape hotel began life in 1876 as a private property made available to the town by the owner for picnics and events. This included invitations to the town for occasional parties at its Prospect Lake House, a summer party venue on a stone outcropping that overlooked a body of water then known as Winchell Pond. Subsequent owners opened it to the public as a campground, and then as a summer RV park for as many as 135 trailers. Over time, a second growth forest of volunteer (uncultivated) pine trees took over, dominating other communities of plants. Human interference and use degraded the ecology resulting in soil erosion and pond eutrophication. The design approach uses the development of the landscape hotel to regenerate the natural systems and recuperate cultural legacies of architecture and land use.

The plan is to:

Shepherd the forest’s successional development toward hardwood.

Regenerate the remaining meadow as an attractor of pollinators.

Restore the existing orchard and supplement it with other agricultural uses.

Repair the lakefront edge to mitigate erosion, improve water quality, and host wildlife.

Establish constructed wetlands and bio-retention to mitigate flooding on low land.

Highlight features of the largely undisturbed glacial outcroppings.

This landscape setting guides the placement of the 40+ cabins clustered within various habitats yet provided with their own particular view of the lake. They are reached by footpath or buggy trail, with large vehicular transport limited to a single looped driveway. Guests can enjoy the isolation of their individual room with a view - even taking meals at their cabins – or take advantage of shared settings and hospitality venues concentrated at the lakefront.

Client: Alander Construction

Site Plan Team:

Gans and Company: Deborah Gans, Corey Arena

Garrison Architects: James Garrison, Suvian Tan

Ecosystem Restoration and Forestry: Biohabitats

Landscape: Andropogon

Civil: Accord Engineering

Builder: Alander Construction

THE CLIFF HOUSE

The Cliff House is a direct descendant of the original picnic structure of 1872. The current renovation strips away the many alterations that have occurred over time to expose the original heavy timber chestnut frame and restore original purpose as a place of relaxation and refreshment. Hovering above the lake, its two-story lounge opens onto covered porches on three sides. The lower volume facing the road has a bar clad in local reclaimed chestnut and a sitting area facing a large hearth faced in local marble. Together with the neighboring Rec Barn, it serves as the communal center of the Prospect Lake Landscape Hotel. (See Prospect Lake Hotel Master Plan) Breakfast and cocktails served daily!

Cliff House Team:

Gans and Company: Deborah Gans, Caleb Crawford, Fabrizio Ungaro, Jared Rice Murray Engineering Structural

Star Lighting; Charles Straner

Builder: Alander Construction

THE REC BARN

Across from the Cliff House reception building of Prospect Lake Landscape Hotel stands a barn dating from approximately the same era with a similar chestnut timber frame. In this current renovation, the central space is extended vertically up to the roof and the lower shed wing is opened up onto a new deck along the lakefront. The building will serve as a multi-function space for the hotel, suitable for yoga classes, rainy day activities and catered events. (See Prospect Lake Hotel Master Plan)

Rec Barn Team:

Gans & Company: Caleb Crawford, Corey Arena, Jared Rice

Structural: Murray Engineering

MEP: Hesnor

Star Lighting; Charles Straner

Builder: Alander Construction

THE MARKET

Located at the crest of the hill along Prospect Lake Road, the market is the public facing signature for the Prospect Lake Landscape Hotel in the woods behind it. Its goods serve both the local community and hotel guests, who can reach it via woodland trails from the resort without crossing a road. The contemporary saw tooth wood volumes echo both the industrial vernacular of the local mills and the clapboard tradition of region. The sheds face south for solar panels with northern clerestory windows for cross ventilation. The material palette combining wood and steel along with the simple volumes encircled by a porch unite the market with the architecture of the hotel hospitality venues and cabins.

The Market Team:

Gans and Company: Deborah Gans, Corey Arena, Jared Rice

Structural: Murray Engineering

MEP: Hesnor

Star Lighting; Charles Straner

Builder: Alander Construction