A pool’s design should work in unison with the home, so at times during the year when it’s not being used, the pool will still provide an atmosphere of relaxation. It should also be functional for the owners and offer a value-add to the property. With this design philosophy in mind, Swimmore Pools set to work to create a modern, rectangular, L-shaped pool that its Mordialloc clients could use, regardless of the Melbourne weather conditions with year-round heating.

“The homeowners wanted to have a clean transition from their entertaining area to the pool with a priority of maximising the waterline in the space we had available,” explains designer Amanda Hebdige of Swimmore Pools. Consideration also had to be given to the safety of existing structures such as their home, the large rear factory wall at their boundary, the challenges of a flood overlay, and permeability requirements. There was also very limited access to this 550sqm flat residential block via the side of the house. “Fortunately, the neighbours were very accommodating in allowing us access for excavation,” says Amanda.

For year-round heating, the 7.2m-long mosaic-tiled pool features a Theralux HeatPro 30kW inverter heat pump. Other fabulous user-friendly features are the Theralux Mineral Chlorinator, paired with a Quantum Purity water purifier. Quantum Purity uses hydroxyl radicals, a molecule found naturally in the body’s immune system, to safely remove bacteria, micro-organisms, pathogens and viruses in the water. This ensures natural, fresh water with no toxic by-products. And of course, the Spa Electrics multi-coloured niche lights create a dazzling display at night.

With more than 25 years of industry experience, Adam Moore has been operating his own pool plumbing business for most of this time and founded Swimmore Pools eight years ago.
Swimmore Pools constructs pools in all areas of Melbourne and the metropolitan area, as well as in the Bayside, Mornington Peninsula, South Eastern, Eastern and Gippsland regions of Victoria.

All of Swimmore’s pools are custom built to the client’s requirements. Adam is a hands-on builder in all areas of the project, still working on the tools and ensuring everything is
spot on. “We meet with our clients to find out
their needs, time frame and budget,” says Adam. “We then look for the best solution or design to meet their objectives. If they are comfortable with us and the solution we are providing, we look forward to the process of engineering their pool and working with them to bring their dream to life.”

Swimmore Pools is a licensed Paramount in-floor cleaning system dealer and has extensive knowledge and experience with hydraulics, cleaning systems and equipment, ensuring everything meets requirements. The company is a member of SPASA Australia and is a Registered Building Practitioner with VBA.

For more information, 

Swimmore Pools 

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In Aberfeldie, Melbourne, an Art Deco-style house with beautiful fittings and features belongs to a forward-thinking architect. When he renovated the property years ago, the rear was done in cohesion with the original property so that it would seamlessly integrate with the existing house. When it came time to consider a pool to complete the residence, the client had a vision for an contemporary-looking, edgy pool design and Laurie Jacobson Pools was chosen to work with him to bring it to life.

“The homeowner had drawn up designs for the pool and we worked to make his vision a reality,” explains Laurie, director of Laurie Jacobson Pools. “Unlike what many clients usually ask for, this 6.5m-long pool isn’t child-friendly. With children in their 20s, the homeowners wanted to enjoy their back garden and create a visual feature.”

The modern pool wraps around the house due to a rather tight space for the pool between the house and garage. The walls around the deep end are high, so swimmers need to swim back to the shallow end to get out of the pool. There is also a marble retaining wall at the back, containing a sheer-descent water feature. “It’s an interesting-looking pool featuring different levels and retaining walls,” says Laurie.

Despite the tight space where the pool was to be located, access to the area was fortunately quite easy, with a gate to the side of the pool allowing for equipment to be taken in and out. With the house, backyard and pool working in unison, the completed property really does exude visual interest and captures the architect’s vision.

For more information

Laurie Jacobson Pools

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Pool tiles are often an afterthought, however, for this gorgeous pool, the tiles were an integral part of the design and were the very first thing chosen by the couple and architect. “The tiles were selected first and we worked backwards from this,” explains Nick Markogiannakis, managing director of Nemcon Pools. The striking travertine tiles have been used in the pool interior as well as the surroundings. The gaps in the tiles line up perfectly with the home, creating an aesthetically pleasing symmetry. The warm-toned tiles are 400mm x 800mm and work well with the earthy colours on the contemporary-style home.

The tiles were laid onto a Pasco Buzon Pedestal system, which is quite different to traditional paving. A concrete base with draining is set up, then the pavers are fastened to adjustable pedestals. The pavers aren’t glued down and no grout is required, allowing water to drip down through the gaps where grout would normally be. “This allows for far better drainage,” says Nick. “All waterproofing and sealants are also from Pasco”.

The owners of this new home wanted a space where their three school-aged sons could have fun with their friends, as well as something they could grow into as a family. “There is a massive entertaining area that interacts with the alfresco area and the pool. It all works really well together,” says Nick. The pool was a unique design concept that came together through a collaboration between the owners, the architect (John Bornas at Workroom Design), the landscape designer (Brett Robinson at ACRE) and Nemcon Pools. The result is a resort-like escape for the owners to enjoy every day.

The people at Nemcon Pools pride themselves on style, innovation and quality and believe every customer deserves this when it comes to their new pool. “Our relationship with each of our clients will be built on honest communications and integrity,” shares Nick. “We work to our highest potential, delivering extraordinary quality projects across Melbourne and creating an enjoyable building experience.”

For more information

Nemcon Pools

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The sheer beauty of this Mount Martha location is undeniable, however with such a stunning location came a sloping and awkward site, with lots of rock excavation required to create the superb finished product. Coastal Pools & Spas rose to the challenge to design and build this gorgeous rectangular 11m-long pool boasting clean, sharp and modern lines and long seating areas that allow the homeowners to relax and look out over the glorious bay.

According to Steve Lord, the owner of Coastal Pools & Spas, the homeowners — a professional couple — requested a low-maintenance, easy-care pool design they could use anytime of the year. “We consulted with the clients and understood their requirements. The process really was plain sailing,” says Steve. “We had a good client relationship throughout.”

Coastal Pools and Spas also worked in conjunction with Cutting Landscapes, with the fencing, landscaping and plants combining in perfect harmony to complement the pool, which is surrounded by silver-grey granite paving and coping. “This project went seamlessly with the landscaper, Cutting Landscapes, due to our great relationship with them,” says Steve.

After he had spent many years in the industry, Steve Lord established Coastal Pools & Spas in 1979. At that time there was only a handful of pool builders and designers on the Mornington Peninsula, and he quickly developed a solid company and an enviable reputation
for building quality pools that met his clients’ requirements. This has continued through to the present, with the majority of the company’s projects gained through referrals from satisfied clients or repeat business. The team at Coastal Pools & Spas take pride in the quality of their designs, products and service, with friendly, knowledgeable employees working to make dreams come true.

“At Coastal Pools & Spas we handle all aspects of the pool installation — it’s a complete personal service,” says Steve. “We spend a great amount of time with our clients discussing the needs and wants for their swimming pool, family situation and future plans and growth. Once we have some parameters, we then move on to our design studio where a comprehensive 3D image is constructed. From here, our focus is on finding what will work best for our client through the use of tangible and visual samples, from materials through to the colour palette. With a complete personal service, we find this is the best way to build great relationships with our clients that last for many years.”

The team works on around 20 pools on and around the Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne’s south-east each year and specialises in building quality high-end concrete swimming pools. Coastal Pools & Spas is a member of the Master Builders Association of Victoria and SPASA Victoria. 

For more information

Coastal Pool and Spas

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Rainwise Pools Melbourne has always been focused on sustainable pools and provides a huge range of water- and energy-conservation product options for new pool owners. This project, however, was a little different. From the outset, these environmentally conscious owners were determined to make all pool decisions based not only on obtaining an amazing-looking pool, but also one that is fully sustainable.

Everything to do with this project — from water tanks to the pool location, height, sanitation system and even the pool fence location — was all carefully considered. A deliberate decision was made to only select the very best energy and water efficiencies to run this pool long term.

“We believe this is our first true zero-water-wastage pool project,” says Rainwise Pools Melbourne. “Even the backwash water is recycled and directed to a water tank and used back in the house, via a pump system, to flush the toilets.”

The Northcote project, which received a Highly Commended award for the 2020 SPASA Vic awards for Best Sustainable Pool or Spa Project, has proven that there is no compromise in design, performance or style when creating a fully sustainable pool. There is a huge range of hard-working energy-, water- and chemical-saving additions to this pool, incorporated in such a way that they are not focal points. In fact, most go unnoticed by those viewing, enjoying and swimming in the pool.

Consideration was made to place the pool efficiently on site. Its position and the extension of the wall behind the pool help to minimise wind-based evaporation. The three-sided windbreak provided by the dwelling, the solid wall on one side and the extended fence at the rear dramatically reduce wind speed over the water and therefore provide protection from excessive evaporation. The raised pool, along with the glass fence on the only exposed side, provides further protection. Consideration was even given to noise pollution by positioning the pool equipment in a location that minimises noise impact, away from living spaces and neighbours. This allows pool equipment to be operated anytime.

The best energy-efficient equipment was selected including variable-speed pumps that typically cut energy use by up to 90 per cent, and LED lights that use minimal energy.

The highest-quality oversized sand filter allows for faster filtration using less energy and water. Recycled glass filter media was the clear choice as it has a greater filtration capacity.

For heating, the homeowners selected a combination of both solar with gas back-up. The installation of 32m of solar heating on the northern side of the home with the ability to switch to the 400mj gas heater allows for year-round swimming while utilising the most efficient pool heating method available.

Full automation of the pool is via the Aquatek system with smartphone connectivity. This system has a huge impact on water, chemical and energy savings. The owners can control everything from pump speed to PH to pool temp with the touch of a button. They can monitor the pool, maintain perfect water balance and be fully responsive from anywhere in the world.

One of the biggest contributors to the project’s sustainability is the sanitation system. Rainwise Pools Melbourne installed the Naked Swim NKD-1 — the Naked Fresh Water System is a true environmentally friendly system offering many benefits, not only for the swimmer, but also for the garden and pool equipment. This system provides pool water that is typically the same as what comes from a household tap. Because it’s a fresh water system, swimming in the pool is no different to having a shower or bath, and children do not need to shower or bathe after swimming, further reducing the home’s water usage.

The real benefit is how these owners have incorporated their water tanks into this system. Rainwise Pools Melbourne also supplied two rainwater tanks for collecting rainwater to utilise in the home and garden, but most importantly, for pool top-up. Given the home’s roof size and average annual rainfall for Melbourne, these homeowners have the capacity to harvest close to 100,000 litres of rainwater annually and as a result, mains water is not required for pool top-up.

What is really exciting is how the backwash water is recycled — not a single drop of pool water is wasted. After consultation with council, the owners directed the backwash from the pool into a water tank and this is then used back in the house for flushing the toilets via a special pump system designed to prioritise tank water over mains water for toilet flushing. The Naked Fresh Water system provides water that is so fresh that it allows for pool water to be reused both in the toilet and to water the garden.

Due to the size of the roof and potential rain catchment area, Rainwise Melbourne also provided a downpipe diverter as an additional pool top-up method. This allows the owners to benefit from currently unutilised downpipes to send rain water directly to the pool via the diverter.

Another very important feature is the under-deck pool blanket and roller. The blanket is almost unnoticeable when not in use and reduces evaporation by up to 90 per cent. It also retains heat, resulting in significantly reduced energy consumption as less electricity and/or gas is required to maintain the desired pool temperature. The blanket also protects the pool from additional dirt and debris and results in reduced cleaning and chemical use.

Rainwise Pools Melbourne is a multi-award-winning provider of premium fibreglass pools. Rainwise takes great pride in being a member of SPASA and has received many awards for its sustainable pools. “We provide clever pools that utilise water-saving and water-harvesting devices to not only save water, but minimise costs through reduced chemical, energy and water use,” says Rainwise.

For more information

Rainwise Pools Melbourne

The post Saving Water Cost with a Sustainable Pool appeared first on Completehome.

Located in Blairgowrie, a seaside village on the Mornington Peninsula, this contemporary coastal rectangular pool and square-shaped spa on a corner block have completely transformed the backyard.
The homeowners envisaged a space for entertaining and relaxing, and Aquarius Pools, which built the 8m-long pool and spa, has more than delivered, with alfresco dining adjacent to the pool on the deck and outdoor kitchen.

“The beautiful blue hues of this pool and spa are inviting, and stunning slate paving results in a gorgeous water feature from the house, deck and adjacent firepit,” says Chris Jackson, managing director of Aquarius Pools. “The pool, spa and garden have completely transformed the space.”

“The intention was to create a contemplative private garden around the new pool,” says landscape designer Fiona Brockhoff, of Fiona Brockhoff Design. “This area required screening from the adjacent street traffic but also enough space to enjoy the pool surrounds. We used plants that are low maintenance and well suited to the existing site conditions. Most are indigenous to the Mornington Peninsula. The emphasis is on plant form and foliage colour. The result is a private green retreat from the outside world.”

Aquarius Pools is dedicated to producing pools that will provide a lifetime of enjoyment for every customer. The company builds approximately 30 high-quality architectural concrete swimming pools each year in Victoria’s eastern and Bayside suburbs and on the Mornington Peninsula. Aquarius Pools is a member of SPASA Victoria and has been recognised for its innovative designs and quality workmanship, with many awards over the years. Most notably, in 2016 Aquarius Pools won the most prestigious awards: gold for Pool of the Year in both the SPASA Australia and SPASA Victoria awards, and in 2017, Highly Commended Best Residential Concrete Pool under $100,000 in the SPASA Victoria awards.

For more information

Aquarius Pools

The post This private retreat offers contemporary coastal bliss appeared first on Completehome.

Situated on a sloping Mornington block, the clever design and positioning of the cliff-top pool maximises the views of Port Phillip Bay and enables the lucky homeowners to watch the twinkling city lights from their pool and spa.

“The house and pool were designed to look over the bay, down the valley and across the horizon to Melbourne city”, says Chris Jackson of Aquarius Pools. The clients were looking for a pool that was suitable for exercise and a spa that they could relax in during all seasons. They also wanted an alfresco area suitable for entertaining.

Complex engineering was required to suspend this negative edge pool within the north and east facing walls, where the pool wraps around house, providing a stunning water feature from the entrance, kitchen and living room. A two-way fireplace provides a unique visual through the flames to the stunning pool and spa from inside the home and also doubles as a visual feature enjoyed from the spa.

“The innovative indoor/outdoor fireplace provides a visual link between interior and exterior living and a relaxing atmosphere when sipping a drink in the spa during summer or winter”, says Chris. The fireplace is framed by beautiful stonework made from blue-moon stone and creates a dramatic backdrop to the pool.

Water and energy saving were important considerations in this project. Water tanks have been cleverly positioned under the pool floor to provide smart water conservation without taking away space or being an eyesore. Additionally, the pool features a Pentair Intelliflo variable-speed pump that provides significant power savings compared to traditional pumps. For ease of use, the pool is fitted with the latest technology including an Aqualink in-house controller which provides fingertip control of the pool from the kitchen and living area or through the owners’ iPad or iPhone from wherever they are — meaning they can turn the spa heating on from the golf course!

Another unique design element of this project is a striking succulent garden by Colin Hyett Design. “The client wanted a beautiful and simplistic garden to showcase the contemporary building. “The linked, circular garden beds incorporate a feature pond and a central sculpture”, Chris describes. “Stone steps link the pool, courtyard, garden and fire pit”. The plants used in this garden design include Aloe barbarae, Agave americana blue and golden barrels, which are hardy and bold architectural species suited to the windy coastal position.

For more information

Aquarius Pools

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Built by Kiama Pools, the stylish design complements the clients’ new home in Bayside, Melbourne. “These lovely clients wanted a beautiful outdoor space for the whole extended family to enjoy,” explain Tim Sprague and Stephen Lloyd, co-owners of Kiama Landscapes & Pools. Designed by Mark Browning of Cycas Landscape Design, the 9.5m-long lap pool is a rectangle shape with additional width for the spa and step in the light-blue mosaic-tiled pool.
Kiama Landscapes constructed all of the poolside entertaining space including classic travertine paving, coppered oak decking, privacy screens, retaining walls, planting and lawn area. “As this property had limited space, a retaining wall was constructed at the rear where the neighbouring property is a higher ground level,” say Tim and Stephen. The Kiama Landscapes’ team also carried out the front garden landscaping including the front fence and driveway.
“For us, a good design is one that delivers on the client brief, complements the family home and features an amazing outdoor space built by qualified staff with quality that’s built to last,” say Tim and Stephen.
Tim Sprague and Stephen Lloyd, co-owners of Kiama Landscapes & Pools, both have extensive landscaping experience and noticed a gap in the market: clients wanted to deal with one company to design and create the entire outdoor space — a complete pool and lifestyle solution. Kiama Pools was created with this in mind and has since grown into a successful business, managing the design and construction of outdoor spaces, from landscaping and pool building to outdoor rooms and pavilions. Kiama Pools is now comprised of a group of fully qualified team members who are experts in their field, and each plays their part in offering clients a one-stop solution.
With Kiama you deal with one company that manages your entire pool and landscape project, or alternatively will collaborate with your home builder, designer or other landscaping professionals to bring your outdoor vision to life. The company has more than 30 years’ experience in creating luxury outdoor living areas across Melbourne and the Bellarine and Mornington peninsulas.
With an award-winning team of experts to design and build the ultimate outdoor space and swimming pool to suit clients’ requirements, Kiama Pools can create the lifestyle you’ve always wanted.

For more information

Kiama Pools

The post A super-stylish lap pool and spa design in Melbourne’s Bayside appeared first on Completehome.

Located on an expansive rural Mornington Peninsula property, this spectacular 15m-long rectangular pool boasts vistas to the lake at one end and views of Port Phillip Bay at the other.

“The owners’ brief was for a pool that was large enough for swimming laps and family fun, entertainment and relaxation,” explains Chris Jackson, director of Aquarius Pools. Rachcoff Vella Architecture designed a clever shaded alfresco dining area adjacent to the sleek pool, which maximises the stunning rural outlook and hides away the pool equipment. A fireplace features on the opposite wall, framing the pool. Rural fencing borders both ends of the pool and keeps the cows contained.

“This pool’s design, like all those we build, is about great aesthetics and functionality,” says Chris. “It also incorporates a ledge/seat that runs the full length of the pool, which is great for children or for sitting with a drink under the umbrellas.”

Surrounded by bluestone and grass, the pool also had to be user-friendly and low maintenance. The Aqualink in-house controller provides fingertip control of the pool from the living area and kitchen. The iPad and iPhone controls enable the ultimate convenience as the owners can turn on the heat from the office or any remote location. The Paramount PCC in-floor cleaning system ensures fully automated maintenance, and the IntelliFlo pump’s variable speed provides significant power savings over traditional pumps.

With views of the lake, bay, rolling hills and cows to be enjoyed while swimming or relaxing, these homeowners certainly have tranquillity on their doorstep.

For more information

Aquarius Pools

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To complete their Mornington Peninsula holiday house, this family of six envisaged a medium-size, low-maintenance pool in order to truly relax, away from their busy lives in Melbourne. “Our holiday house is near the beach and we wanted the spa and pool to be a relaxing location away from the sandy beaches — somewhere to just chill out with a cold drink and a magazine,” says homeowner Paul. “I travel every month for work and because this property is our holiday home, we needed something low maintenance and not too big.”

For their 1100sqm rectangular block, nestled among trees, the family opted for a dual-zone pool-and-spa combination — the rectangular Sabre Plunge Pool and Smooth Edge Grande Spa, both in Ocean Wave, from Endless Spas and Pools.

“Our family had been looking for a while before deciding to go with Endless Spas and Pools. We found the showroom comprehensive, especially the real-life-designed outdoor area inside, which really helped us visualise what we could create. We were able to get some great ideas from this, including paving, water features and landscaping,” says Paul.

“Design was a journey; we looked through Poolside magazine and other publications to get ideas and inspiration based on our growing family and what each of us wanted. We went for the dual-zone pool with separate spa as the pool gets little use in winter, while the spa is used every day by adults and kids, especially during winter when we are at our holiday house enjoying a break from city life.

“The dual zone was the perfect option and also has hard covers for both the spa and pool, which is ideal and keeps maintenance to a minimum. These covers keep the pool and spa spotless all year round. The Viron Connect Wi-Fi app allows me to check water quality, adjust pump cycles and even heat or cool the spa and pool from anywhere in the world — which I highly recommend. Also, the Viron e-Quilibrium chlorinating sensor kit takes care of self-monitoring the chemical levels and adjusts accordingly as needed, so I really have little maintenance to worry about and more time to enjoy the pool and spa.

“Now everyone, including our large extended family, loves coming down for a barbecue and a swim or a relaxing twilight spa.”

For more information

Endless Spas

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