Where Blue Meets Green: Pools Shaped By Nature
When the world feels steeped in chaos, there’s no better escape than your own private pool sanctuary. And for the pinnacle of relaxation, few designs offer more serenity than those that take notes from nature. Hannah McDonald from Sydney Pool + Outdoor Design sits down with Andrew Rothery, sales and marketing manager of Crystal Pools, to explore how thoughtful design can create pools that offer both a sense of place – and a place to swim.
After an astounding seventy years of business, Crystal Pools is a formidable force in the pool construction industry. Spanning both domestic and commercial markets, the company can realise any vision, from exquisite plunge pools to highly functional aquatic centres. Crystal Pools truly is the first choice for everyone – whether its families seeking a fun-filled splash zone or a high-end resort sourcing the perfect haven for their guests.
More than a decade ago, Rothery was drawn to the company’s long-standing reputation and exceptional service, envisioning a natural place for himself within it. He expands, “the reasons for Crystal Pools’ success are clear… crystal clear, in fact. An unwavering focus on build quality, professionalism and integrity in service. I joined Crystal Pools almost 14 years ago. Coming from the building industry, holding a full builder’s licence and with my experience in sales and marketing, it was a great fit for both Crystal Pools and me.” As a fountain of expertise, Rothery details the key considerations when designing a pool that seeps into serenity.
NATURAL LUXE
The term ‘natural luxe’ spells out exactly what it is – balancing the opulence of luxury materials with the ease and simplicity of organic tones. For Rothery, it’s a significant element of a seamless design. “Natural luxe is a major factor. We achieve this by using natural materials and free-form designs to complement the luxe aesthetic of the home and landscape areas. Every one of our pools is set up with mineral salt chlorination systems as well as recycled glass media,” he says. In the current market, the demand for this blend of nature and luxury is reaching a new peak. Rothery continues, “there is certainly a swing back, with more clients again looking at organic shapes to
achieve a natural look that echoes pools you might find occurring naturally in some of Sydney’s national parks. We certainly enjoy the process and results of designing non-rectangle pools.” However, several factors need to be considered when pursuing this design. “Balance is a key word. Balance between natural features and luxury inclusions for comfort and function. Balance applies to shaping as well – the space between natural features, the pool and the current home design. Striking the balance and ‘feel’ between these elements is in the eye of a skilled pool designer,” he explains.
LAYING THE GROUNDWORK
Beginning the process of designing a new pool is an exciting experience – made even better when you have a clear vision of what you want. Rothery recommends consulting your pool builder as early as possible if you want a pool that naturally blends with the landscape, since the site influences what can be achieved. “The pool placement and its surrounding footprint establishes the entire design concept. Attention to design is key as with this type of pool, the pool space and blend to landscape typically occupies a large part of the backyard,” he expands.
The design process begins with a site assessment, taking stock of the land’s natural attributes, including the natural topography and any sandstone rock formations. “To ensure these features flow around the pool, we may plan at the design stage to remove or relocate some rocks and trees. Every site is unique, and how much we reshape the landscape is dependent on budget. This is done in consultation with the owners to a planned design at the outset. We help – right from the first ideas. We are then able to assist with this design stage and liaise with landscapers
during excavation and construction, coordinating heavy earth moving equipment and more to achieve the desired outcome,” Rothery explains.
BLENDING IT IN
Once the site has been assessed and the plan established, the key focus of the project becomes the seamless blend from the manmade pool into the lush surrounds of nature. Rothery has seen first-hand how it’s achieved. “Natural stone copings and surrounds are our primary means of blending the pool with the landscaping. That’s become a big part of this type of pool design,” he identifies.
The surrounds can be integrated into the pool design by working with the property’s natural curves and optimising the ideal placement of the pool. “Using the current contour of the land and position of the home in relation to the pool helps create the natural blend between the terrain and pool and well as landscaping designs,” Rothery details. Whereas the implementation of paving acts as a natural bridge between the constructed and the organic. “The use of natural stone paving surrounding the pool helps to soften the transition between the pool and landscaping.”
Drawing from nature’s beauty comes with a responsibility to protect it. Fortunately, native terrain can merge a pool with nature, while obscuring its eco-conscious equipment. “Items like pool fencing and water features also assist to complement the pool design as well as hiding the energy efficient equipment behind landscaping features,” he offers. By blending thoughtful design with natural inspiration, today’s pools offer not just beauty, but a harmonious marriage to the landscapes we call home.
Images courtesy of Personal Pools