A pool and landscape design with classic grandeur

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For such a stately residence, only a pool and landscape design of equal grandeur would do.

Following extensive home renovations, the owners of this large estate in the northern Sydney suburb of Bayview engaged A Total Concept, a company specialising in landscape architecture and swimming pool design, to design the external areas. This included a pool and poolside entertaining areas, a tennis court, and a feature front entry.

What A Total Concept faced was land covered with weed-infested native scrub, a fall of more than 10 metres from front to back, and three very distinct external areas. “One is now a period-style circular driveway entry, another, on the lower level of the property, is a tennis court, and the third is a pool and poolside entertaining area to the rear of the residence,” says John Storch from A Total Concept.
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The elevated pool and adjacent sitting areas capture views to Lion Island in Pittwater, making this the entertaining hub of the home. Although traditional in style, the poolside pergolas are “state of the art”, with electronically controlled waterproof covers and concealed radiant heaters. In keeping with the stately look of the home, this area features blond sandstone paving and the pool is clad in deep-blue ceramic tiles.

Obtaining approval to construct the tennis court was difficult due to the substantial cut and fill required to provide the required level platform. A Total Concept was able to negotiate this controversial proposal through local council, saving the owners the cost, time and uncertainty of having to deal with the Land and Environment Court. “The dilapidated native vegetation surrounding the court has been replanted using endemic seed stock collected from the immediate area to ensure genetic diversity, a commitment made to council as a means of obtaining approval,” adds John.

The driveway, garden and lawn area create a stunning transition from street to residence. This space incorporates a formal waterfall and pond, a sandstone entry path and cobblestone driveway, and a palette of traditional garden plants suited for use in the Australian environment.

At night, the poolside entertaining spaces are lit with LED downlighting which, together with LED lighting in the pool, creates mood-enhancing washes of light and dancing shadows. The tennis court is lit with spotlights for night-time play.

A Total Concept is an established, award-winning design and management practice specialising in the integration of swimming pools, gardens and cabanas in projects ranging from simple family homes to elaborate residential properties, and boutique and resort-style developments. John Storch and his team have succeeded in creating a beautiful environment for the owners of this abode, one that reflects the practice’s philosophy of “a total concept” and adds immeasurably to the lifestyle amenity and value of the property.