Pool Design: Classical and Minimalist Designs

As this pool area provided the only significant outdoor entertaining space for the house, the brief from the homeowners was for a pool that was contemporary, low maintenance and fully integrated to the home.

The pool was to be situated in the small front garden so the working space was very tight. However, the use of the available space was optimised by siting the pool close to the street boundary, allowing for a feature wall and raised planter box to soften the stark architecture and add interest to a small courtyard. The minimalist design is echoed in the square bottom of the pool which allows for the use of large format tiles, repeating the pattern of the horizontal and vertical planes used in the house and the surrounding saw bluestone paving.

The additional features of the full length swim-out and the floating, custom designed, adjustable timber day-bed maximise the use of the space without impacting on the site’s utility.

Limited space was allowed in the design for the pool equipment enclosure. The solution was to disguise the enclosure as an entrance wall next to the fence which then needed careful engineering as it formed the northern pool perimeter. This required input and coordination form Natural Pools, the landscape designer, the manufacturers of the equipment and the builder to coordinate design of the pool equipment layout to comply with all relevant regulations.

Natural Pools are renowned as being the pioneer of the ‘natural’ style swimming pool in Victoria. Natural Pools’ style has evolved over the past 35+ years; having built swimming pools and gardens of every type and style, the company now tends towards modern and minimalist designs that complement today’s architectural trends.

Natural Pools has always led through innovation. It was the first swimming pool company in Melbourne to recommend and install heating for swimming pools. Similarly, it was the first to embrace salt chlorination and in-floor cleaning systems. Natural Pools is an industry leader in comprehensive water management solutions, including roof harvesting, discrete water tanks and pool covers.

A major company highlight was the construction of arguably the biggest swimming pool in Australia. The wet-edge pool, which measures a remarkable 120m x 90m x 5m and was built for the filming of the Noah’s Ark and Moby Dick movies.

Since 1985, Natural Pools has won more than 60 awards, with two awards, a Gold and a Highly Commended, at the 2008 Victorian SPASA Awards of Excellence and a Gold Award in the 2007 National Pool and Spa of the Year Awards. Natural Pools uses only quality materials and equipment and the most highly skilled and professional tradespeople.

Source: Melbourne POOL+ OUTDOORDESIGN (Australians leading pool and outdoor design magazine)