From dirt, rock and weed to a luscious home resort, this project in Castle Hills, NSW, shows how a holistic plan and dedicated team of designers and tradesmen can completely transform a landscape.
Every part of the project has been carefully considered to develop a sense of continuity and integration between the house and the landscape. The brickwork and stone from the pool and cabana tie into the materials on the exterior of this knockdown-rebuild home to create a unified look.
The open cabana is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the serenity of the pool. It provides a space for the homeowners to relax and unwind with a drink in the evening, or escape the sunshine during the heat of the day. A WC and shower have been built into the cabana so pool users can use the facilities without bringing wet feet into the home.
The stunning Ezarri pool tiles used in this project are a feature worth mentioning as they’ve been custom mixed to reflect the colourings of the Sardinian coastline — a nod to the homeowners’ heritage.
The project has been designed with the owners’ love of the outdoors in mind. They wanted a visually appealing garden that can be viewed from the house and which provides colour and foliage in all four seasons. A raised vegetable garden provides fresh produce for their kitchen and is a quaint addition to the design.
The spectacular garden and pool were designed by ecodesign and built by sister company AEON Pools. Their landscaping company, The Other Side, looked after the construction of the cabana, the hardscaping and plantings. “We look at the whole integrated landscape and this project represents why we do what we do — it’s a good balance of hardscape, softscape and plantscape,” says Adrian Swain, director of ecodesign.
The project was situated in the leafy suburb of Lindfield, where many established trees had to be accommodated in the pool design and excavation. The terrain was also rockbased, which required a bit more effort in terms of planning and excavation, but it was nothing the talented team couldn’t handle.
“Their starting canvas was dirt, rock and weeds and we were blown away by their professionalism and expertise,” say homeowners Viv and Karen. “From the new pool and cabana to the carefully crafted garden beds, plant selections and placement, driveway and walkways, every aspect of the project was executed with utmost care. The finished result is a true oasis, a place where we now love to spend all our time. We are so grateful to have found such a talented and dependable landscaping team and we would highly recommend them to anyone looking to transform their outdoor space as we did.”
At a glance
Pool designed by: ecodesign Engineering Solutions
Pool built by: Aeon Pools
Heating systems: Waterco heat pump, auto dosing
Automation: Aquamaster controller
Pool cover: Remco Swimroll cover supplied
Decking: Adam Hompas Landscapes
Tiles: Ezarri (custom mix)
Landscaping: The Other Side Landscapes
Company profile
ecodesign, The Other Side Landscapes and AEON Pools are part of the AEON group, owned by Adrian Swain, RLA and Fellow of the Landscape Design Institute (LDI). This boutique group of
registered landscape architects was established in 2003 and focuses on luxury residential projects. “We offer our clients a comprehensive package of services and can deliver the whole project — from design to approvals and construction,” says Adrian. “Following initial consultations, we sit with the client, interior designer and architect and work through concept development, development approvals and detailed design, then construction and project management. At all stages we liaise closely with the project team to ensure a high-quality outcome.”
The group has received multiple international, state and national landscape awards, including the Allan Corey Award for overall design excellence, as voted by AILDM, now LDI. ecodesign is a member of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA), Australian Institute of Horticulture (AIH) and the LDI, while The Other Side Landscapes and AEON Pools are members of the Master Builders Association (MBA), The Landscape Association (TLA) and the Swimming Pool & Spa Association (SPASA).
For more information
ecodesign
E: info@ecodesign.com.au
P: 02 9680 7712
