Embraced by tropical plants, this plunge pool is a place of retreat.
Sydney’s Inner West, in particular the popular suburb of Balmain, is notorious for its small blocks with tight access — as was the case with this project. A large pool was not possible but a compact, clean-lined plunge pool and spa certainly was.
Nick McCarthy, founder and director of Urban Escape Landscapes & Pools, says the homeowner had several requirements when it came to the design and build of the pool and spa. “The brief called for a pool that was not only ideal for entertaining and relaxing, but could also be used for aqua therapy,” reveals Nick. “Basically, a lot was to be fitted into a small space, without it looking too busy or cramped.”
As the block and resulting backyard were small, the 4.2m-long pool and spa that dominate the outdoor space also needed to essentially function as a large water feature, gladdening the eye when viewed from inside the house. Urban Escape achieved this with a mix of spotted gum decking, bluestone paving and coping, and a mosaic-tiled interior — all enhanced with tropical plantings such as ginger, elephant ears and hibiscus.
As the homeowner uses the pool most days for exercise, spa jets and a gas heater were incorporated. A water feature was also integrated into the pool’s fully-tiled feature wall. For ultimate functionality, there is an in-floor cleaning system, automation, spa jets and LED multi-coloured lights. The filter box has been cleverly hidden below ground and behind the pool feature wall.
Overall, the Urban Escape team was responsible for the pool and landscape design, council design documentation, pool and landscape construction plus all post-construction documentation.
Urban Escape began as a structural landscape company with a clear but simple vision of creating stylish, high-quality gardens to suit its clients’ needs. Owner Nick McCarthy holds a science degree in horticulture and landscape design, and shortly after starting his landscaping business he was inspired to become a licensed pool builder.
“There was a tendency to put pools where the client said without thinking it through, or even to just put them where it was easiest for the builder, rather than where they would achieve the best outcome,”says Nick. “That is essentially why I got into building pools — so I could be sure our pools were put in the best location. Sometimes an architect just draws a rectangle and that’s it. A pool is a big item and needs to be integrated and thought through so it works with the landscape.”
This boutique company has now been an integral part of Sydney’s landscaping and pool industry for more than 25 years. Urban Escape prides itself on offering a holistic approach, from the consultation and design periods through to council submissions, landscaping construction as well as pool and spa construction. The result is a seamless and stress-free process for clients.
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