Incorporating an entertaining area and pool, this beautifully designed cabana by A Total Concept is the perfect place to relax
A series of complimentary outdoor rooms, rather than one dominant space, create a unique link for this home and its lower garden areas. The existing garden for the project was originally very steep, which created a disjointed relationship with the home and prevented it from being used for lawns or a garden. A Total Concept has created a more level and usable area that connects seamlessly with the home.
The external area incorporates a pool and an associated entertaining area, a second entertaining area nearer to the home and generous stairs linking the two spaces.
The area was opened up with concertina doors and a large timber entertaining deck. Half of the timber deck is undercover for wet-weather entertaining and the other half is shaded when needed with a stylish, large umbrella. A large barbecue has also been incorporated undercover within the upper deck for everyday family cooking and relaxing with a wine after work.
The steeply sloping site meant the project could only be designed with a substantially elevated swimming pool and was therefore conflicted with council planning policy. “We negotiated with council for over a year to get the project approved in the form we required rather than compromise on a design that would ultimately not work as well for our clients nor their property,” says Shaun Wright, senior designer at A Total Concept. Part of this design included keeping all fill on site to create a level entertaining area immediately adjacent to the swimming pool.
The second shaded poolside entertaining area acts as a space for older children to relax with their friends away from the adult’s upper entertaining. Much of the furniture — seats, tables and umbrellas — used in both entertaining areas was purchased from the same supplier to create a unified style.
The pool was designed with deep, middle and shallow areas for diving safety and so older children could play pool games such as volleyball. The formal swimming pool has translucent deep blue glass tiles that make the water shimmer and sparkle.
A planting theme unites the swimming pool and outdoor rooms, using a simple palette of Anigozanthes flavidus ‘Red’ (Red Kangaroo Paw), Syzygium ‘Cascade’ (Lillypilly), Juniperus Conferta (Shore juniper), Westringia fruticose (Coast Rosemary), Liriope ‘Evergreen Giant’ (Liriope), Phormium ‘Chocolate’ (Brown Flax) and Agave attentuatum (Agave).
To ensure the garden’s viability, A Total Concept incorporated composting, heavy mulching and a water-wise, fully automatic drip irrigation system that linked to large water storage tanks.
The flowing simplicity of design between the two main outdoor rooms unifies the overall project, adds immeasurable value to the property and, in essence, creates a ‘total concept’ for the owners.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Landscape architecture and pool design by A Total Concept
Email design@atotalconcept.com.au
Website www.atotalconcept.com.au
Originally from Outdoor Rooms magazine, Volume 21