A gorgeous family pool and spa with all the bells and whistles
The scale, complexity and detail of this Toorak, Melbourne, project produced an exceptional result that has delighted the homeowners. While achieving a beautiful aesthetic, the contemporary pool and spa also meet the brief for a fully automated, low-maintenance pool for family fun, swimming laps and enjoyment for life.
The innovative design, by Cera Stribley Architects in conjunction with Aquarius Pools, features an infinity edge on three sides of the pool, with a large spa at the opposite end. The clever addition of a Remco SwimJet is housed in a 730mm-wide wall between the pool and spa. Due to the sloping block, the 16.39m-long pool is suspended 5m above the ground.
The curved sculptural form of the house is designed to wrap around the pool. All the rooms point north, overlooking the swimming pool and out towards the city. Lit up by LED lights, the pool and spa form a water feature at night and along with the alfresco dining area, are part of the dwelling’s entertainment wing.
The attention given to achieve this result was of the highest level — both above ground and below. Complex engineering has enabled a plant room to be located under the pool. The plant room layout, housing equipment, was arranged to the millimetre.
Above ground, the wet edge has a 5m drop over a stone-clad wall. This required complete formwork and reinforcing, with the balance tank and gutter all having to be built as part of the foundations and sprayed separately before the pool shell could begin. The balance tank wall on the underside of the pool was a staggering 650mm thick.
The boundary side infinity edge and associated gutter has drainage to the balance tank and required a 440mm-thick wall for the length of the pool. The 300mm-thick pool floor required considerable engineered propping to support the weight of reinforcing and concrete.
The pool and spa water cleverly sit at the same level, while still being separated to enable spa heating. This is achieved by a small open tiled gutter, which required a high level of detailing. The pool and spa include an extensive range of equipment and the highest-quality materials for a fully automated result.
A playful landscape design incorporates a clever wave-shaped pool fence. Bluestone crazy paving highlights the curved lawn areas and garden beds, while limestone paving surrounds tiled pool and spa. This pool recently won Pool of the Year at the 2021 Master Pool Builders Association awards as well as gold for Residential Concrete Lap Pool and gold for Residential Concrete Pool & Spa over $100,000.
This pool won Pool of the Year at the 2021 Master Pool Builders Association awards as well as gold for Residential Concrete Lap Pool and gold for Residential Concrete Pool & Spa over $100,000.
Aquarius Pools is dedicated to producing pools that will provide a lifetime of satisfaction and enjoyment for every customer. The company, started by Chris Jackson’s family in 1979, builds a limited number of bespoke high-quality architectural concrete swimming pools each year in metropolitan Melbourne as well as on the Mornington Peninsula. In 2021, Aquarius Pools’ construction manager, Jonathan Edrupt, joined the team as director. Aquarius Pools is a member of SPASA Australia & MPBAA and has been recognised for its innovative designs and quality workmanship with many awards over the years including 2021 MPBAA Pool of the Year Award.
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