Dip into a designer home swimming pool

Holding onto the existing living/entertainment area and blocking out unsightly neighbouring houses without compromising the bay views was part of the broader brief. The challenges of very limited outdoor space and steep slope required an innovative approach - one that designers Greg Fell of Aloha Pools and Steve Taylor of Creative Outdoor Solutions obviously embraced. The virtually unusable site was overcome by building the home swimming pool completely above natural ground level, supported by concrete piers.

"The finished project is a complete entertainment package - visually stunning, fully functional and easy to maintain," Greg says. "It's the perfect place to escape for a weekend away." Key design features include a lap pool with integrated spa, underwater seating and a shallow 3x3m beach area for lounging and cooling off. 

High garden walls act as a windbreak from northerly winds - a significant problem in the area. A floating-deck feel is achieved with the expansion of timber decking around the pool and just beyond the water's edge. Enhancing the area's clean-lined appeal is a sunken outdoor table in the deck, eliminating the need for outdoor dining chairs. An outdoor shower and barbecue make for easy entertaining too. Water flows over the side of the elevated spa and under the suspended boardwalk that connects the two large deck areas. It then flows into the pool via the shallow lounge area. A nice green feature is the diversion of the house storm- water system to provide a top-up for the home swimming pool.

Being a holiday home, low maintenance was essential. The garden is deliberately left to a minimum for easy care and plants chosen for maximum impact. Foliage softens the lines of the home and garden walls. An in-floor cleaning system fits with the low-maintenance requirements, and the pool and spa are fully computer controlled. Being integrated with a telephone link, the owners can activate cleaning and heating while driving to their holiday home and arrive to a pool and spa ready for use. 

Further evidence of the 'no compromise' approach is seen in the quality of finishes. The pool is fully tiled in Italian glass mosaic tiles, with a nice contrast achieved with the same tiles in bronze/gold used as feature walls on the outside of the spa, water feature and outdoor shower. There's a clever use of underwater niche lights and spotlights highlighting the wet-edge spa and extensive use of landscaping lights throughout the decking and garden. 

The pictures, and a summer spent splashing around, speak for the pool's overall success. I know what you're thinking - that's one lucky three-year-old.

Greg Fell

Aloha Pools Pty Ltd

What was the brief?

This property had limited outdoor space adjacent to the home - there was only one section of usable land. At first the client was resigned to losing this area for a pool. Instead, we put forward a design that retained this space and created a beautiful and functional entertaining area.

Were there any challenges?

The site was so steeply sloped it was virtually unusable. To overcome this we built the pool completely above natural ground level, supported by concrete piers. The outside pool wall forms the base of a planter box which is 3.7m above the ground.

Are you happy with the overall result?

Extremely. We designed it to eliminate the visual problems of unsightly neighbouring houses, backyards and outbuildings, while not obstructing the view to the bay. The aesthetic appeal of the pool and surrounds is substantial and has lifted the value of this holiday retreat to a whole new level.

What's your favourite aspect of the project?

The whole feel of the outdoor area and the way this has added total entertainment value to the property.

Andrew

What was the brief?

We wanted a little pool down the right-hand side of the cliff for my three-year-old daughter! I guess my wife and I had always wanted a pool too, as neither of us had one when we were growing up.

Were there any challenges?

Not really for us, but the 2-3m embankment was a challenge for the designers and builders. Lots of concrete was required and we didn't realise the soil had been previously tilled.

What was the process?

Aloha Pools referred us to a landscape architect to help design a pool around the specs we wanted. I told the designer to come up with 'The Ultimate', thinking we'd scale it back from there. But it got to a stage where we were halfway and we decided we just couldn't compromise on anything. 

Are you happy with the overall result?

Most definitely. Aloha Pools were sensational. Once we started building it and realised how big it was going to be, we were a bit nervous, but we never expected it to look as good as it does. I can turn on the heating from my computer in Melbourne and arrive in Blairgowrie to a hot spa!

What's your favourite aspect of the project?

We absolutely love the pool - especially the tiles and feature lighting in and around it. Lighting was paramount to us from the start. People say it looks like a resort.