A contemporary pool exudes sophisticated design and complements the property in gorgeous fashion
When viewing this sophisticated lower North Shore project in Sydney, it is difficult to visualise the enormous issues that arose during the building approval stage, especially the pool section.
“The steeply sloping site posed problems as the project could only be designed with a substantially elevated swimming pool and was therefore in direct conflict with council planning policy,” explains John Storch, principal of A Total Concept Landscape Architects and Pool Designers. “In addition, the adjacent property owners organised a neighbourhood petition to object to the proposal. We negotiated with council for more than a year to get the project approved in the form desired rather than compromise on a design that would ultimately not work as well for our clients or their property.“Once approved, we helped our clients with materials and functions selections in our showroom, then specified and tendered the project, let the contracts for pool and landscaping and supervised the construction process on our clients’ behalf.”
The teal-coloured Italian glass tiles of the large swimming pool beautifully reflect the pool and house lights at night and mirror the surrounding gardens during the day.
“People are looking for value and quality — the wow factor in the finer detail rather than in the size of the project,” says John. “This project delivers it with the inclusion of an innovative in-water tanning shelf — an underwater paved area allowing lounges to be placed inside the pool without the person using it getting wet, while enjoying the cooling effects of the surrounding water. In addition, chunky square edges of the coping create shadowlines around the pool for an effect of a floating island sitting area.”
The garden, also designed by A Total Concept, is predominantly viewed from above, so John incorporated strong-coloured simple bands of Syzygium ‘Cascade’, Anigozanthos ‘Bush Gem Red’, Westringia fruticosa, Ophiopogon jaburan and Phormium ‘Purple Haze’. The end result is both an innovative and beautifully integrated pool complex for the homeowners, with visual simplicity of design and subtle use of quality materials unifying the project and setting the components well into the surrounding landscaped gardens to create a “private resort”.
A Total Concept is an established award-winning design practice covering the integration of internal and external areas for projects ranging from simple family homes and elaborate residential properties to boutique and resort-style developments. The company creates a fusion of home and garden areas for clients. Services extend from consultations, designs and specifications, council approvals, builder recommendations to the total management of the project and contract administration for home alterations and additions, pools, cabanas and gardens.
The company brings together all aspects of the project, helping with specifying the choice of materials and colours, planting and lighting, internal fixtures and fittings, flooring and paving selections through to kitchens, bathrooms and pool equipment.
For more information