By Jason Cramp
This pool and landscape installation built by built by Solda Pools Ltd., in Vaughan, Ont., was not only intended to be a functional feature of the backyard, but was also designed to be a formal space with many different areas where the homeowner can entertain, or simply unwind, with family and friends.
The multi-purpose gunite pool, which is 4.8 x 16.7 m (16 x 55 ft), allows the homeowner to swim laps and exercise freely without compromising the visual intent of the space. The inclusion of custom-concrete steps and benches appeals to the recreational aspect of the pool and allows bathers to relax and lounge in the water.
Finished with an interior plaster material (Quartzscape), the pool has a deep, rich-blue tone which heightens the reflection properties of the water, allowing the unique architecture of the pool house to bounce back to onlookers, creating a serene, symmetrical appearance.
The surrounding landscape was designed to maintain a clean, conservative, and symmetrical esthetic which exquisitely frames the pool, allowing it to stand out as the centrepiece of the backyard. Plenty of space is provided on either side of the installation for chaise loungers, while retaining walls, flanking both sides of the pool, house pocket gardens, landscape lighting, and a fire feature. The design of the pool house complements the home’s architecture and is intended to be a formal space for outdoor entertaining purposes.
The pool is equipped with an automatic cover which helps to keep the pool clean, as well as reduce heat loss. A pool automation system was also installed to allow the homeowner to easily control everything from the circulation equipment to lighting options.
The home builder constructed the pool house and a separate landscaping consultant was hired by the homeowner to achieve the surrounding landscaping.
