Words: Adrian Swain

Texture is a design element that can be used in garden design to create a beautiful, unified outdoor space and activate an emotional response, making you want to reach out and touch.

Texture can be both a visual and tactile feature. The latter can be especially effective when used as a focal point for gardens where children play, or for sensory gardens where materials and plants are meant to be touched. Foliage texture can also affect the quality of natural light in a garden — feathery foliage produces lovely filtered light; thick, leathery leaves provide dense shade.

Nature as inspiration

When considering how you can use texture, take your cue from nature. There are many different types of naturally-occurring textures — beads of water forming on the smooth surface of a leaf, the patterned bark of a tree, the weathered surface of wood. Texture can also work to enhance mood, whether it’s the pleasant sensation you get when touching the soft, furry foliage of a plant such as lamb’s ears or laying on the cool grass under the shade of a tree.

Different textures and combinations of them also have different effects on your perception of a space. Their use can provide spatial definition, making an area feel larger or smaller, calmer or more dynamic.

Contrast or complement?

Contrasting textures can enliven a garden, such as the rough texture of dry-stone or recycled brick next to smooth paving, or a large-leafed feature plant in the midst of a dense, small-leafed hedge. Contrasting textures can also attract the eye to a feature or direct attention to a pleasing view.

Complementary textures can engender unity and calm. Similar textures may also be used to make an unsightly area blend in by enticing the eye to glide over it. In short, complex textures have the effect of drawing the eye, while smoother textures allow the eye to pass across them without interruption. Used wisely, textures can define a space as active or passive and set the mood for outdoor living.

Adrian Swain is a multi-award-winning landscape designer and founder of Sydney-based ecodesign. 

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A beautifully integrated pool and garden escape in the heart of suburbia, this Doonside project by AEON Pools is the embodiment of clever planning and calm sophistication. Seamlessly tying together architecture, landscaping and leisure, this outdoor space balances restraint with refined detail — a modern sanctuary for a young family with an eye for design.

Turning challenges into opportunities

Positioned on a sloping corner block, the site posed a few early challenges. “We discovered remnants of an old pool — poorly demolished and filled with contaminated material,” says Adrian Swain, founder of AEON Pools. “We had to excavate and remove the fill, and then collaborate with engineers to stabilise the new structure with additional piering. It wasn’t straightforward, but it was essential.”

A pool designed to belong

What emerged from that complexity is a sleek 7.6m x 4m geometric pool, visually anchored by Ezarri’s Zen Carrara mosaic tiles and Aria Limestone coping. Full-width steps stretch across one end, offering both a sculptural element and an elegant, shallow entry point that extends naturally into the alfresco living space. “That connection was important,” says Adrian. “The pool needed to feel like a part of the home, not an add-on.”

Beyond the pool: A garden with intent

That sentiment carries through the entire outdoor scheme. Designed by Ecodesign and brought to life by AEON Pools in collaboration with The Other Side Landscapes, the space isn’t just about water — it’s a fully realised external environment. Carefully curated plantings create softness and seasonal interest, from the delicate foliage of Japanese Maples to the structured calm of Philodendrons, Azaleas and Manchurian Pears. Silver Sheen Pittosporums form a gentle privacy screen, while accent plantings of Mexican Lily and Tiger Grass add sculptural flair.

Light, shade and flow

Lighting by Aqua-Quip adds subtle drama after dark, and a custom powder-coated pergola provides a shaded spot without disrupting the clean geometry of the space. The garden is designed to unfold gradually — organic bluestone stepping stones lead you through layers of form, texture and bloom.

Designed for living, all year round

“The brief was clear,” explains Adrian. “This young family wanted a space that flowed with their home, but also something that was useable year-round and held its own identity. The finishes had to feel cohesive with the architecture — that was non-negotiable.”

A Waterco heat pump ensures the pool stays comfortable through the cooler months, while a robotic cleaner and Waterco filtration system keep maintenance minimal. As with all AEON projects, the approach wasn’t just about ticking boxes — it was about crafting an experience.

“Good design,” says Adrian, “lives at the intersection of budget, beauty and purpose. This pool dances right on that line.”

End-to-end service

AEON Pools was founded by Adrian Swain and has been shaping outdoor spaces for more than 23 years. Offering a boutique end-to-end service, the AEON team limits their work to 12 to 20 pools annually to ensure each project receives the attention it deserves. Known for its integrated approach, AEON doesn’t just build pools — it creates complete environments, balancing function, form and flow.

At a Glance

Pool design: Ecodesign
Pool built by: AEON Pools
Size: 7.6m x 4m
Heating: Waterco heat pump
Filtration: Waterco media filter
Cleaning: Robotic cleaner
Tiles: Ezarri Zen Carrara
Coping: Aria Limestone
Pavers: Organic Bluestone stepping stones
Lighting: Aqua-Quip
Fence: Colorbond Mini Orb + frameless glass
Landscaping: The Other Side Landscapes
Plants include: Japanese Maple, Manchurian Pear, Azalea Kurume, Silver Sheen Pittosporum, Philodendron, Japanese Box, Mexican Lily and more
Home built by: Elandra Homes
Special features: Custom powder-coated pergola, fully integrated landscape architecture

For more information

Aeon Pools
Unit 61, 5 Gladstone Rd, Castle Hill, NSW 2154
02 9871 7703
info@aeonpools.com.au

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Winner Best Small Landscape – Landscape of the Year Awards 2025

Living in a terrace house in a bustling urban area has much to recommend it, but there can be downsides. Typically, the rear garden will be small and off-street parking options will be nil to negligible. The owners of this property faced this dual dilemma so sought the expertise of Adrian Swain, Director of Ecodesign and The Other Side Landscapes.

“They wanted to renovate their dilapidated backyard and create a garden oasis,” says Adrian. “They also wanted to create an on-site car space that could be accessed from the rear laneway. This meant, due to the yard’s limited size, we had to create a multi-use space.”

The owners expressed a preference for raw and natural materials, which Adrian happily incorporated into his garden design — a blend of classic and modern styles —along with luxuriant planting.

“We used natural, raw and recycled products where possible, including spotted gum timber for decking, dry-pressed recycled brick for paving and retaining, and a cedar timber spa,” he explains. “Polished concrete was used for steps instead of tiling and Corten steel edging was used to create a vegetable and herb garden.”

The hub of the space is a spa set atop a deck where the owners can sit and dry-off or simply laze about. Circular polished concrete steppers lead down to an area paved in a herringbone pattern using recycled bricks. This is a multi-functional space used to park the car or as an outdoor dining/lounge area. In turn, this space is linked to the house by a path of polished concrete steppers.

The planting palette emphasises green and silver foliage, and incorporates blooms of various colours. “The intent was to create a relaxed planting layout while maintaining structure,” says Adrian. “The planting was also chosen to suit the filtered light the garden areas receive throughout the day.”

The planting palette embraces Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku’ (Japanese maple), Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’ (silver kidney weed), Gardenia radicans (dwarf gardenia), Ligularia reniformis (tractor seat plant), Magnolia x alba (white champaca), Parthenocissus tricuspidata (Boston ivy), Pogonatherum paniceum (baby panda bamboo), Stachys byzantine (lamb’s ear), Viola hederacea (native violet), and Buxus sempervirens (box), clipped into balls.

So the space can be used at night, and to highlight the various feature elements, lighting was installed along the walls and paths, and in the garden beds.

For the construction team, the biggest challenge was the existing drainage issue. There was no fall from the garden’s low point to the laneway discharge area so a pump with a float switch was installed to send water to the street as soon as it was collected.

The considerable care and expertise that went into this project paid off, creating a multi-levelled, multi-functional living space the owners can enjoy, day or night.

Contact Details

Landscape Design: Ecodesign
Landscape Construction: The Other Side Landscapes

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Every part of the project has been carefully considered to develop a sense of continuity and integration between the house and the landscape. The brickwork and stone from the pool and cabana tie into the materials on the exterior of this knockdown-rebuild home to create a unified look.

The open cabana is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the serenity of the pool. It provides a space for the homeowners to relax and unwind with a drink in the evening, or escape the sunshine during the heat of the day. A WC and shower have been built into the cabana so pool users can use the facilities without bringing wet feet into the home.

The stunning Ezarri pool tiles used in this project are a feature worth mentioning as they’ve been custom mixed to reflect the colourings of the Sardinian coastline — a nod to the homeowners’ heritage.

The project has been designed with the owners’ love of the outdoors in mind. They wanted a visually appealing garden that can be viewed from the house and which provides colour and foliage in all four seasons. A raised vegetable garden provides fresh produce for their kitchen and is a quaint addition to the design.

The spectacular garden and pool were designed by ecodesign and built by sister company AEON Pools. Their landscaping company, The Other Side, looked after the construction of the cabana, the hardscaping and plantings. “We look at the whole integrated landscape and this project represents why we do what we do — it’s a good balance of hardscape, softscape and plantscape,” says Adrian Swain, director of ecodesign.

The project was situated in the leafy suburb of Lindfield, where many established trees had to be accommodated in the pool design and excavation. The terrain was also rockbased, which required a bit more effort in terms of planning and excavation, but it was nothing the talented team couldn’t handle.

“Their starting canvas was dirt, rock and weeds and we were blown away by their professionalism and expertise,” say homeowners Viv and Karen. “From the new pool and cabana to the carefully crafted garden beds, plant selections and placement, driveway and walkways, every aspect of the project was executed with utmost care. The finished result is a true oasis, a place where we now love to spend all our time. We are so grateful to have found such a talented and dependable landscaping team and we would highly recommend them to anyone looking to transform their outdoor space as we did.”

At a glance

Pool designed by: ecodesign Engineering Solutions
Pool built by: Aeon Pools
Heating systems: Waterco heat pump, auto dosing
Automation: Aquamaster controller
Pool cover: Remco Swimroll cover supplied
Decking: Adam Hompas Landscapes
Tiles: Ezarri (custom mix)
Landscaping: The Other Side Landscapes

Company profile

ecodesign, The Other Side Landscapes and AEON Pools are part of the AEON group, owned by Adrian Swain, RLA and Fellow of the Landscape Design Institute (LDI). This boutique group of
registered landscape architects was established in 2003 and focuses on luxury residential projects. “We offer our clients a comprehensive package of services and can deliver the whole project — from design to approvals and construction,” says Adrian. “Following initial consultations, we sit with the client, interior designer and architect and work through concept development, development approvals and detailed design, then construction and project management. At all stages we liaise closely with the project team to ensure a high-quality outcome.”

The group has received multiple international, state and national landscape awards, including the Allan Corey Award for overall design excellence, as voted by AILDM, now LDI. ecodesign is a member of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA), Australian Institute of Horticulture (AIH) and the LDI, while The Other Side Landscapes and AEON Pools are members of the Master Builders Association (MBA), The Landscape Association (TLA) and the Swimming Pool & Spa Association (SPASA).

For more information

ecodesign
E: info@ecodesign.com.au
P: 02 9680 7712

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This exciting project was the result of an enjoyable commission by engaged clients who pushed the team to create a unique pool.

“We were engaged at the house pre-design stage to ensure the landscape design, pool and gardens complemented the homeowners’ new home,” explains Adrian Swain of AEON Pools. “Our clients asked us to design a pool that was complementary to the house architecture and gardens. We achieved this by working with the home’s designer and landscape architect to coordinate the material selections to ensure the materials used complemented the house. The residence was delivered to a very high standard with all luxury inclusions, and the pool finishes and equipment were required to be specified to a similar level.”

It also had to be fun for children. An integrated rain curtain water feature was installed flush-mounted into the shadow line cabana ceiling, and children can play on extended full-width entry steps at the shallow end of the pool while under the falling water. A full-length ledge also features to the long side of the pool and enables kids to have a base to play games such as Marco Polo.

In addition, the project also needed to provide an opportunity for adults to relax and unwind. “We integrated the pool with the design of the cabana to have a strong visual connection between the pool and alfresco areas that also connect closely with the internal living rooms,” Adrian says.

Last but not least, the 8m x 4m pool had to be a striking feature from the home, and spectacular even when not in use. The pool and cabana are the main features in the rear yard, linked to the alfresco through a 5m-long glass pool wall that maximises the pool’s visual impact from the kitchen and living areas.

The pool is accessed at the shallow end via three full-width steps from the adjoining cabana, taking advantage of the slope down from the rear of the property. The steps up to the cabana from the alfresco are generous and create a strong connection between the home, cabana and pool.

Garden lighting design is integrated with the pool’s design and layout, which makes both the pool and landscape a striking feature in the evening. The cabana’s lighting design creates linear features and shadow play. Rebated risers in the front and rear steps have created a floating effect, while the structural plantings are uplit.

The position of the pool in the landscape promotes a sense of balance. Although it extends across a large area, it appears to sit comfortably within the existing contours and is elevated to take advantage of the existing slope.

The pool surrounds and landscapes were closely integrated, with high attention to detail to ensure seamless integration between pool, landscape, cabana and home. This required careful scheduling between abutting finishes provided by multiple trades.

Overall, the integrated nature of the pool and landscape was driven by the master plan for the site. The design process required a detailed analysis of client needs, existing site, planning of proposed levels and council controls, which then informed the allocation and size of spaces around the pool. “Our client also expected an extremely high level of quality and we delivered in excess of their expectations,” says Adrian. “In every aspect of the construction and finishes, close attention to detail was provided.”

The pool is fully tiled with glass mosaic White Russian tiles from Ezarri. The concourse and coping are constructed from a 20mm porcelain tile that has a dropdown rebate to the coping and mitre-cut joints to all corners. The coping tile was also used throughout the rear yard and cabana. Particular effort was given to the detail for the mitre joints.

The pool colours, considered part of the overall design, are in keeping with the colours of the house, cabana and landscape structures. The rear wall of the pool rises out from the water as an integrated retaining wall that has a colour-matched acrylic render coating. This wall extends the length of the pool and integrates into the cabana wall and adjoining garden retaining walls. Meanwhile, the planting design is intentionally minimal, aligning with the rectilinear layout to reflect the modern house design.

This project was awarded a SPASA gold medal in the category of Pool Lighting Feature. AEON Pools is the pool building arm of the AEON Group which combines the multi award winning companies ecodesign Ltd and The Other Side Landscapes, both owned by Adrian Swain. This boutique group of registered landscape architects, horticulturists, pool builders and landscapers focuses on projects on the north shore and in northwest Sydney.

“Following initial consultations, we sit with the client, interior designer and architect,” says Adrian. “We work through concept development, development approvals and detailed design, then construction and project management. At all stages we liaise closely with the client and the contractor.”

In 2019, the multi-award-winning company received two international awards as well as state and national accolades, including the Allan Corey Award for overall design excellence, as voted by the Landscape Design Institute (LDI).

Adrian is a registered Landscape Architect, Fellow of the Landscape Design Institute and also holds memberships of AIH, SPASA, MBA and The Landscaping Association.

At Glance

Pool designed and built by: ecodesign
Landscaping: The Other Side Landscapes
Size: 8m x 4m
Heating: Inverter heat pump entirely powered by photovoltaic cells on roof
Tiles: Fully tiled in glass White Russian mosaic tiles from Ezarri
Coping: 20mm porcelain tiles
Feature wall: Glass
Lighting: Integrated RGBW LED strip lighting in rain curtain, rebated risers in the front and rear steps of cabana, structural plantings are uplit.

For more information

ecodesign

AEON Pools

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