Modern Swimming Pool Ideas and Designs
Randy Angell DesignsThe planning phase of this modern retreat was an intense collaboration that took place over the course of more than two years. While the initial design concept exceeded the clients' expectations, it also exceeded their budget beyond the point of comfort.
The next several months were spent modifying the design, in attempts to lower the budget. Ultimately, the decision was made that they would hold off on the project until they could budget for the original design, rather than compromising the vision.
About a year later, we repeated that same process, which resulted in the same outcome. After another year-long hiatus, we met once again. We revisited design thoughts, each of us bringing to the table new ideas and options.
Each thought simply solidified the fact that the initial vision was absolutely what we all wanted to see come to fruition, and the decision was finally made to move forward.
The main challenge of the site was elevation. The Southeast corner of the lot stands 5'6" above the threshold of the rear door, while the Northeast corner dropped a full 2' below the threshold of the door.
The backyard was also long and narrow, sloping side-to-side and toward the house. The key to the design concept was to deftly place the project into the slope and utilize the elevation changes, without allowing them to dominate the yard, or overwhelm the senses.
The unseen challenge on this project came in the form of hitting every underground issue possible. We had to relocate the sewer main, the gas line, and the electrical service; and since rock was sitting about 6" below the surface, all of these had to be chiseled through many feet of dense rock, adding to our projected timeline and budget.
As you enter the space, your first stop is an outdoor living area. Smooth finished concrete, colored to match the 'Leuder' limestone coping, has a subtle saw-cut pattern aligned with the edges of the recessed fire pit.
In small spaces, it is important to consider a multi-purpose approach. So, the recessed fire pit has been fitted with an aluminum cover that allows our client to set up tables and chairs for entertaining, right over the top of the fire pit.
From here, it;s two steps up to the pool elevation, and the floating 'Leuder' limestone stepper pads that lead across the pool and hide the dam wall of the flush spa.
The main retaining wall to the Southeast is a poured concrete wall with an integrated sheer descent waterfall into the spa. To bring in some depth and texture, a 'Brownstone' ledgestone was used to face both the dropped beam on the pool, and the raised beam of the water feature wall.
The main water feature is comprised of five custom made stainless steel scuppers, supplied by a dedicated booster pump.
Colored concrete stepper pads lead to the 'Ipe' wood deck at the far end of the pool. The placement of this wood deck allowed us to minimize our use of retaining walls on the Northeast end of the yard, since it drops off over three feet below the elevation of the pool beam.
One of the most unique features on this project has to be the structure over the dining area. With a unique combination of steel and wood, the clean modern aesthetic of this structure creates a visual stamp in the space that standard structure could not accomplish.
4" steel posts, painted charcoal grey, are set on an angle, 4' into the bedrock, to anchor the structure. Steel I-beams painted in green-yellow color--aptly called "frolic"--act as the base to the hefty cedar rafters of the roof structure, which has a slight pitch toward the rear.
A hidden gutter on the back of the roof sends water down a copper rain chain, and into the drainage system. The backdrop for both this dining area , as well as the living area, is the horizontal screen panel, created with alternating sizes of cedar planks, stained to a calm hue of dove grey.
Alka Pool Construction LtdThe outer vanishing edge wall acts as a welcoming entrance to the pool area.
Wildman Photography
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Tom Ralston ConcreteHere one can lay by the poolside and gaze out past the hard geometry that leads to the pool's flowing endless edge where green plants and a green vineyard counters with the natural ruffles and stuff that plant life and nature has to offer
John Luhn
Raft to Rafters Pool and SpaIn ground vinyl liner swimming pool with full width steps and custom sun deck.
Best Hot Tubs "Hot Tub and Spa Experts"www.besthottubs.com
Keeping a spa separate and functioning with its own controls, allows it to run late into the season -- and, in the Northeast, perhaps all winter long!
Endless PoolsYour very own swim oasis, courtesy of Endless Pools. The retractable glass walls let you choose: breathe in the crisp plains air and feel its warmth on your face, or just luxuriate in the sheltered view.
Amantea ArchitectsRosedale ‘PARK’ is a detached garage and fence structure designed for a residential property in an old Toronto community rich in trees and preserved parkland. Located on a busy corner lot, the owner’s requirements for the project were two fold:
1) They wanted to manage views from passers-by into their private pool and entertainment areas while maintaining a connection to the ‘park-like’ public realm; and
2) They wanted to include a place to park their car that wouldn’t jeopardize the natural character of the property or spoil one’s experience of the place.
The idea was to use the new garage, fence, hard and soft landscaping together with the existing house, pool and two large and ‘protected’ trees to create a setting and a particular sense of place for each of the anticipated activities including lounging by the pool, cooking, dining alfresco and entertaining large groups of friends.
Using wood as the primary building material, the solution was to create a light, airy and luminous envelope around each component of the program that would provide separation without containment. The garage volume and fence structure, framed in structural sawn lumber and a variety of engineered wood products, are wrapped in a dark stained cedar skin that is at once solid and opaque and light and transparent.
The fence, constructed of staggered horizontal wood slats was designed for privacy but also lets light and air pass through. At night, the fence becomes a large light fixture providing an ambient glow for both the private garden as well as the public sidewalk. Thin striations of light wrap around the interior and exterior of the property. The wall of the garage separating the pool area and the parked car is an assembly of wood framed windows clad in the same fence material. When illuminated, this poolside screen transforms from an edge into a nearly transparent lantern, casting a warm glow by the pool. The large overhang gives the area by the by the pool containment and sense of place. It edits out the view of adjacent properties and together with the pool in the immediate foreground frames a view back toward the home’s family room. Using the pool as a source of light and the soffit of the overhang a reflector, the bright and luminous water shimmers and reflects light off the warm cedar plane overhead. All of the peripheral storage within the garage is cantilevered off of the main structure and hovers over native grade to significantly reduce the footprint of the building and minimize the impact on existing tree roots.
The natural character of the neighborhood inspired the extensive use of wood as the projects primary building material. The availability, ease of construction and cost of wood products made it possible to carefully craft this project. In the end, aside from its quiet, modern expression, it is well-detailed, allowing it to be a pragmatic storage box, an elevated roof 'garden', a lantern at night, a threshold and place of occupation poolside for the owners.
Photo: Bryan Groulx
Artistic Glass Solutions - Monique's StudioHere is an edge shot of the same blue counter-top. You can see the wave-like pattern of the entire piece. The top looks as if it is a still shot of crystal clear water.
Landscape Plus, LLCThe landscaping around the swimming pool, the retaining wall and the landscape lighting are all part of the swimming pool design.
Kailey J. Flynn PhotographyPhoto by Kailey J. Flynn Photography. Designed by Da Vinci Pools. Screen designed by Nick Mehl Architects
Modern Swimming Pool Ideas and Designs
Kalamazoo Outdoor GourmetThis outdoor kitchen is one part of a larger outdoor entertaining area that was designed by Dale Hoover of Anza Living Spaces – a Durango, CO based design firm. The homeowners have love to entertain and wanted a design that would create an environment that included separate scenic venues for their guests.
At the heart of the design was the pool area with views overlooking the Sacramento Valley. As a focal point off the pool is the outdoor kitchen. Since the couple enjoys entertaining frequently and the location of their kitchen is in such a special area, the design had to be open and airy, creating a light-feeling environment. It also had to promote the valley views, foster continual circulation of the breeze and have constant social access to guests. In short, it had to be a one-stop, functional space for them to entertain by the pool. The finished product was a stunning and highly functional Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet kitchen.
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