Inside–Out Architecture, Part V: The Living Pavilion

Where Leisure Meets Landscape

In the canon of tropical modernism, the living room has often been treated as a sealed interior — a climate-controlled box with a view. Comfortable, yes. Protected, certainly. But also restrained, disconnected from the living context beyond its walls.

At KR Industries, we believe this space — the true social heart of the residence — deserves a new typology. One that doesn’t just look out at the landscape but fully lives within it. The Living Pavilion is our answer: a hybrid indoor–outdoor space where architecture frames the horizon, materials choreograph movement, and climate is embraced rather than fought.

This week’s study builds on our Inside–Out Architecture series — following the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and garage — to explore how the living room can evolve into an architectural event. Here, we examine four distinct design expressions, each rooted in the same core philosophy but manifesting in unique form.

1️⃣ The Grounded Composition

Minimalist form meets elemental tactility.

In the first design, the living pavilion sits as an anchored, horizontal mass — a low, deliberate gesture that embraces the ground plane. Board-formed concrete walls and warm limestone floors create a foundation of permanence, while oiled teak soffits soften acoustics and temper light.

Floor-to-ceiling pocketing glass walls retract completely, drawing the pool terrace into the interior footprint. The seating composition is intentionally low-profile — wide, modular sofas in textured neutrals — allowing the eye to sweep uninterrupted toward the water.

Architecturally, the space is about continuity: the same limestone modules carry from indoors to out, the soffit line aligns perfectly with the pool edge, and the restrained material palette creates a sense of calm that lets the view take center stage.

This pavilion excels in climates where shade and ventilation work together — the deep overhangs protect from direct solar gain while keeping rain at bay, and cross-breezes flow unobstructed through the open plan.

2️⃣ The Elongated Horizon

Linear flow as a design strategy.

In the second variation, the pavilion stretches parallel to the horizon, using length as its primary compositional tool. Here, the architecture orchestrates a journey: guests enter from the rear, moving through a gallery-like lounge that runs the entire length of the infinity pool.

The seating plan is aligned in a strong linear arrangement, each grouping mirrored by an outdoor counterpart just steps away. This parallelism reinforces the connection between inside and outside, making them feel like a single extended room.

The soffit is articulated with recessed lighting channels that guide the eye outward at night, while during the day, the overhang shades the entire terrace. The infinity edge becomes a visual anchor — its linear shimmer reflecting the teak and concrete above.

This approach suits properties with breathtaking panoramic views — the architecture becomes a frame, not a filter, presenting the horizon as a cinematic sequence.

3️⃣ The Sculpted Lagoon

Architecture carved from the landscape.

The third pavilion takes a more organic approach — here, the ceiling plane curves dramatically, creating a series of ovoid cutouts that allow pockets of sky to drop into the space. The pool isn’t adjacent; it is part of the pavilion, lapping against the seating platforms as if the architecture emerged from the lagoon itself.

This is an experiential design. Guests sit in curved lounge niches, feeling water at arm’s length and breezes funneled through the sculpted openings above. The material palette is softened — sand-colored microcement, pale timber, smoothed stone — creating a tactile warmth that offsets the boldness of the form.

The sculptural quality demands precise detailing: drainage is integrated invisibly, the pool’s edge flushes perfectly with the floor, and structural supports are hidden within the curves to maintain visual purity.

Such a pavilion thrives in resort-like private residences where indoor–outdoor living is not just desired but becomes the defining lifestyle.

4️⃣ The Double-Height Lantern

Volume as spectacle.

The final variation leverages vertical drama. A double-height volume rises above the main seating area, framing the view with monumental glazing. Inside, a sculptural staircase or mezzanine balcony hovers above, allowing the upper level to participate in the same panoramic experience as the ground floor.

The hearth, clad in textured stone, becomes the grounding element — anchoring the open space and providing a counterpoint to the lofty proportions. At night, concealed cove lighting along the upper walls turns the pavilion into a glowing lantern, its warm light reflecting off the pool and canopy beyond.

Materially, this is the boldest of the four: darkened concrete contrasts with lighter stone, and bronze detailing frames doors and windows. The pavilion’s proportions demand a high level of environmental control — carefully positioned operable panels manage wind and humidity without sacrificing openness.

This configuration is ideal for sites with dramatic vertical context — steep hillsides, tall jungle edges, or ocean cliffs — where the volume can engage with the landscape at multiple heights.

Design Challenges & Opportunities

Designing the Living Pavilion in a tropical climate is not a matter of simply opening walls. The challenge lies in balancing exposure with comfort:

• Shade & Overhangs: Deep eaves control heat gain without blocking views.

• Cross Ventilation: Aligning openings to prevailing breezes reduces reliance on mechanical cooling.

• Durability: Salt air, humidity, and intense UV demand materials like marine-grade metals, dense hardwoods, and sealed natural stone.

• Lighting Strategy: Daylight must be balanced with layered night lighting for ambiance without glare.

The reward? A space that doesn’t just sit on the site but belongs to it — a pavilion that celebrates the changing light, the shifting breeze, and the sensory connection to its setting.

The Future of Living Rooms

The Living Pavilion is more than an architectural experiment. It’s a proposal for how we might live when we reject the binary of “inside” and “outside.” It acknowledges that the most powerful spaces in a home are those that invite nature in and allow life to spill outward.

In a world where much of our built environment is sealed against the elements, this approach feels radical — yet it’s rooted in timeless traditions from Bali to Brazil, where architecture has always been a partner to climate, not an adversary.

Our vision at KR Industries is to continue refining these spaces — balancing environmental performance with emotional resonance, creating living rooms that aren’t just decorated boxes, but experiences in themselves.

Which of these four pavilions would you live in? Share your choice in the comments and tell us why.

Let us know in the comments below! 👇

Until next time —KR Industries

Design Solutions Rooted in Movement, Material, and Meaning

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