Water feature – Completehome https://www.completehome.com.au Turn your house into a home... Wed, 15 Mar 2023 04:28:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.3.2 https://da28rauy2a860.cloudfront.net/completehome/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/24103109/complete-home-favicon.jpg Water feature – Completehome https://www.completehome.com.au 32 32 A koi pond was the perfect feature to complete this Japanese inspired landscape https://www.completehome.com.au/pools-spas/pools-spas-accessories/pools-spas-accessories-water-features/a-koi-pond-was-the-perfect-feature-to-complete-this-japanese-inspired-landscape.html Thu, 01 Sep 2022 06:14:17 +0000 https://www.completehome.com.au/?p=69914 With its Japanese touches and tranquil koi pond, this garden offers places of peace and sanctuary Having commissioned…

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With its Japanese touches and tranquil koi pond, this garden offers places of peace and sanctuary

Having commissioned a modern, architect-designed home with Japanese influenced interiors, the owners sought a landscape design to match — one that would have a koi fish pond. Adrian Swain, Director of ecodesign, worked closely with the project architect to develop a design that would complement the architectural style of the home and work with the sloping site.

“We explored several options for creating a sense of arrival and facilitating entry to the ground floor of the two-storey home. Our goal was to create a journey through the landscape that would take in the front, side and rear gardens; also a pond area,” says Adrian.

The hard landscaping emulates the finishes used in the home’s façade, such as the dark grey (Dulux Raku) acrylic render used on the lower portion of the home and the even darker grey (Dulux Monument) custom fabricated, powdercoated metal elements. To complement the facade, flamed Black Granite paving flows from the residence to the landscape.

The soft landscaping evokes a Japanese stroll garden with tufted grasses such as Poa ‘Eskdale’, Liriope muscari and Lomandra ‘Tanika’ popping up through swathes of low groundcovers such as Myoporum, Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ and native violet. Mounded plantings of plants such as Buxus, Philodendron ‘Xanadu’, Rhododendron ‘Kirin’ Strobilanthes gossypinus, Loropetalum ‘Burgundy’and Raphiolepis ‘Oriental Pearl’ were positioned to emulate rock placements.

The boundaries are screened by slender weaver’s bamboo, Timor black bamboo and Viburnum ‘Emerald Lustre’ while views across the garden have been framed — or punctuated — with striking small trees such as Acer ‘Senkaki’ and Cercis ‘Forest Pansy’. Cloud-pruned Acer dissectum ‘Purpureum’ and Pinus nigra ably serve as feature plantings and are complemented by accent plantings of Crinum edunculatum, Anenome x hybrida, Miscanthus ‘Zebrina’ and Sansevieria ‘Moonlight’.

“The tranquil koi pond, which adjoins the outdoor entertaining area, is the primary feature and can be viewed from all internal living areas. The pond presented many challenges but the most pressing was the need to achieve pool fence compliance while also maintaining a strong visual link between the pond and home. This was achieved by the use of frameless glass fencing,” says Adrian.

At night, the pond is enhanced by LED underwater lighting and strip lighting beneath the adjacent floating bench seat. Elsewhere in the garden there are step lights, path lights and uplighting to feature trees.

“Another special feature is the bin storage area which incorporates a green roof with shallow soil and low-growing succulent plantings. This was designed to subtly integrate with the architecture and be viewed from the balconies above,” adds Adrian.

In the 2020 AILDM National Landscape Design Awards, this garden won Gold in the Plantscape category with the judges saying: “Repeated use of silver and grey plants at the entrance and repeated through the garden adds a serene mood. Details around the koi pond are exceptional. This is simply beautiful.”

 

For more information, 

Eco Design 

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This Family Pool Will Give Enjoyment For Life https://www.completehome.com.au/outdoors/enjoyment-for-life.html Thu, 02 Jun 2022 23:44:42 +0000 https://www.completehome.com.au/?p=68140 A gorgeous family pool and spa with all the bells and whistles

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A gorgeous family pool and spa with all the bells and whistles

The scale, complexity and detail of this Toorak, Melbourne, project produced an exceptional result that has delighted the homeowners. While achieving a beautiful aesthetic, the contemporary pool and spa also meet the brief for a fully automated, low-maintenance pool for family fun, swimming laps and enjoyment for life.

The innovative design, by Cera Stribley Architects in conjunction with Aquarius Pools, features an infinity edge on three sides of the pool, with a large spa at the opposite end. The clever addition of a Remco SwimJet is housed in a 730mm-wide wall between the pool and spa. Due to the sloping block, the 16.39m-long pool is suspended 5m above the ground.

The curved sculptural form of the house is designed to wrap around the pool. All the rooms point north, overlooking the swimming pool and out towards the city. Lit up by LED lights, the pool and spa form a water feature at night and along with the alfresco dining area, are part of the dwelling’s entertainment wing.

above ground pool

The attention given to achieve this result was of the highest level — both above ground and below. Complex engineering has enabled a plant room to be located under the pool. The plant room layout, housing equipment, was arranged to the millimetre.

Above ground, the wet edge has a 5m drop over a stone-clad wall. This required complete formwork and reinforcing, with the balance tank and gutter all having to be built as part of the foundations and sprayed separately before the pool shell could begin. The balance tank wall on the underside of the pool was a staggering 650mm thick.

The boundary side infinity edge and associated gutter has drainage to the balance tank and required a 440mm-thick wall for the length of the pool. The 300mm-thick pool floor required considerable engineered propping to support the weight of reinforcing and concrete.

The pool and spa water cleverly sit at the same level, while still being separated to enable spa heating. This is achieved by a small open tiled gutter, which required a high level of detailing. The pool and spa include an extensive range of equipment and the highest-quality materials for a fully automated result.

A playful landscape design incorporates a clever wave-shaped pool fence. Bluestone crazy paving highlights the curved lawn areas and garden beds, while limestone paving surrounds tiled pool and spa. This pool recently won Pool of the Year at the 2021 Master Pool Builders Association awards as well as gold for Residential Concrete Lap Pool and gold for Residential Concrete Pool & Spa over $100,000.

This pool won Pool of the Year at the 2021 Master Pool Builders Association awards as well as gold for Residential Concrete Lap Pool and gold for Residential Concrete Pool & Spa over $100,000.

Aquarius Pools is dedicated to producing pools that will provide a lifetime of satisfaction and enjoyment for every customer. The company, started by Chris Jackson’s family in 1979, builds a limited number of bespoke high-quality architectural concrete swimming pools each year in metropolitan Melbourne as well as on the Mornington Peninsula. In 2021, Aquarius Pools’ construction manager, Jonathan Edrupt, joined the team as director. Aquarius Pools is a member of SPASA Australia & MPBAA and has been recognised for its innovative designs and quality workmanship with many awards over the years including 2021 MPBAA Pool of the Year Award.

For more information

Aquarius Pools

Cera Stribley Architects

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This pool makeover is the ultimate functional design statement https://www.completehome.com.au/pools-spas/pool-design-statement-swimming.html Thu, 26 Mar 2020 06:46:35 +0000 https://www.completehome.com.au/?p=56006 It's hard to believe this was once an old pool but is now a striking design statement that livens up this courtyard and is also perfect for swimming

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It’s hard to believe this was once an old pool but is now a striking design statement that livens up this courtyard and is also perfect for swimming

Artesian Pools was presented with an old existing pool in Sydney’s eastern suburbs that had been filled in. Now its owner wanted to breathe new life into it and use it for both swimming and as a design feature of the courtyard. Artesian Pools was required to use a very small space, approximately 3m wide, to create the rectangular lap pool.

“This 7.4m-long pool makes great use of a very limited space with difficult access and gives the homeowner a functional pool which, at the same time, is a feature of the house from every level and the cabana above the garage,” says Zeb Rodrigues, director of Artesian Pools. “However, during its planning, the depth of the existing pool was not known and details could not be confirmed until the hand-excavation was done.”

The exquisite glass mosaic-tiled pool, designed by the homeowner and Rory Brooks Architects, blends new contemporary materials such as steel and frameless glass while preserving the traditional features of the existing house, such as water spouts and stone walls.

The finished project is a perfect example of the exceptional work that Artesian Pools is capable of and produces time and time again. “Concrete pools allow you to design something specific to suit each site,” says Zeb. “We are able to build pools in any space regardless of size, access or landscape difficulty.”

For more information

Artesian Pools

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This Balinese garden recreates Bali Luxury in owner’s backyard https://www.completehome.com.au/outdoors/balinese-garden-recreates-bali-luxury.html Tue, 17 Dec 2019 04:26:37 +0000 https://www.completehome.com.au/?p=54875 Having created many Balinese gardens in the past, multi-award-winning designer Noel Brown of Bioscapes Gold Coast is a recognised doyen in the field, but with the owners of this garden — who also happen to be the owners of leading Balinese importers, Tropical Living — the pressure was on

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Having created many a Balinese garden in the past, multi-award-winning designer Noel Brown of Bioscapes Gold Coast is a recognised doyen in the field, but with the owners of this garden — who also happen to be the owners of leading Balinese importers, Tropical Living — the pressure was on

Says Noel, “The homeowners wanted to showcase their amazing products and recreate a piece of Bali, right in their own backyard. Given they are experts in all things Balinese, we knew they would have exacting standards but we were up for the challenge.

“I draw my inspiration for this style of garden from two decades of travelling to Bali and studying the Zen-like simplicity and not-so-perfect finishes which make a Balinese garden so quintessentially Balinese. This is something we have endeavoured to replicate in this garden, to give the look and feel that you are actually in Bali.”

The garden design process began with several lengthy site visits, a series of client consultations and many hours spent looking through Tropical Living’s treasure trove of stock. “Shortly after being commissioned, they informed me they were off to Bali on a work trip. Basically, they said ‘We trust you — you know what we’re after’ and they left me to get on with it,” says Noel.

Noel’s is a design of many carefully considered parts. One of the most compelling is the authentic, hand-dressed and -crafted hardwood Balinese pagoda/shrine, which is the main focal point of the design. “You just need one glimpse of this feature and the lovely Buddha statue and suddenly you feel like you’re in Bali,” says Noel.

“The bright red backing is for impact and contrast; it also references the owners’ use of red in other parts of their garden, such as the pool area,” he continues. “Leaf-patterned laser-cut panels with no backing reveal the greenery behind them and help to make the pattern pop. To either side there are eye-catching plantings, such as Aechmea blanchetiana, a brightly coloured bromeliad, and Buddha’s Belly bamboo.”

Staggered handcarved Lava stone steps that widen to the width of the shrine lead you from the home to this near-sacred place in the garden. Adds Noel, “These beautifully textured step treads perfectly set off the look I was trying to achieve and the fact that they will age gracefully and collect moss over time means they will give that lived-in look you see in older Balinese gardens.”

Once at the shrine, if you turn around and look back towards the house you spy a ‘secret garden’. This is a space blanketed in green lawn and featuring a beautiful embossed glazed pot. Rising up from the pot is a palm not often seen in Australian gardens — the Hawaiian fan palm. This is complemented by a mix of broad-leaf plants, crucial for creating that authentic Balinese look.

“Bodies of water are an essential part of a Balinese garden,” says Noel. “Here I chose to create two ponds and raise them 800mm above the ground. This made it possible for them to be viewed and enjoyed from several vantage points around the property. Raising them also gave us greater water depth which keeps the water cooler for the fish in the warmer months and allowed us to install structures and aquatic plants to enhance aesthetics and help protect the fish from birds.

“Crowning each pond is a ‘Mountain rock’ pot from Indonesia. I spent hours hand-scratching out mini channels through the top of the pots to allow the water to flow evenly out and around their perimeter. In time, the pots will develop an aged patina and grow moss, giving that traditional Balinese look.

“The two water features are also self-levelling and joined together underground with a 150mm PVC pipe. This comes out at the bottom of each feature and is now known as the ‘Nemo highway’ because, on some days, the owners will notice a lack of fish in one water feature, only to find them all congregating in the other one!”

As this is a garden that is used at night, extensive lighting was installed. “Both the lights and the water features have been put on timers,” adds Noel. “Each day, around dinner time, they switch on so the owners can enjoy the ambience of the lights and the subtle sound of the water trickling — this is the icing on the cake in this relaxing garden.”

The judges of the 2019 Landscape Queensland Construction Excellence Awards were also impressed by the end result. The custom water features won the Best Landscape Feature Residential 2 category and the garden received a Highly Commended in the Contractor Design & Construct 1 category.

For more information

Bioscapes Gold Coast

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Falling water feature https://www.completehome.com.au/pools-spas/falling-water-feature.html Mon, 26 Sep 2016 06:36:16 +0000 https://www.completehome.com.au/?p=31707 A spectacular pool and water feature add a tranquil touch to this backyard

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A spectacular pool and water feature add a tranquil touch to this backyard

When you first feast your eyes on this pool, it is hard to look away from the spectacular water feature. The water cascades into a carefully placed wading pool, delicately adding serenity to the space.

Built by Artesian Pools and designed by the homeowners, this pool makes perfect use of all available space. At a convenient 9m x 4m with an additional wading pool, it offers just the right amount of space for family fun and exercise.

The water feature contains a Perspex window which runs along the front of the pool. A blower at the bottom of the window and strategically placed jets in the wading pool below guide the water elegantly from the main swimming pool into the wading pool.

To ensure the space is family friendly, the wading pool can be seen from any part of the backyard. This allows parents to easily supervise young children who are frolicking in the water.
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Artesian Pools works with clients to achieve the look and finish that was envisaged. This ensures the final pool is functional and blends beautifully with the rest of the property. BH

For more information
Artesian Pools

Originally in Best Homes, Volume 5

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Real pool: Contemporary tropics https://www.completehome.com.au/pools-spas/real-pool-contemporary-tropics.html Fri, 01 Apr 2016 22:33:56 +0000 https://www.completehome.com.au/?p=23218 Designed with sophistication, this contemporary pool blends perfectly with the property

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Designed with sophistication, this contemporary pool blends perfectly with the property

The owners of this property on Sydney’s lower north shore wanted to create a contemporary tropical resort within their petite courtyard space, incorporating a pool, cabana, lawn and gardens. John Storch, principal of the award-winning company A Total Concept Landscape Architects and Pool Designers, executed the brief to perfection, designing and delivering the tropical concept that the homeowners sought.

Reflecting value and quality craftsmanship, the finer details of the project are exemplary. An innovative combined water feature and artwork adjoining the pool, together with a glass wall edge, concealed timber deck fixings and off-form concrete paved entertaining areas exude elegance and luxury.

The teal-based, multicoloured Italian glass tiles of the glass-edged swimming pool beautifully reflect the pool, garden and house lights. Mirroring the surrounding gardens during the day, the Italian glass tiles achieve a stunning outlook from the kitchen and living areas to the swimming pool.

While the rear of the property initially offered no outlook or privacy from the neighbours, A Total Concept bounded the entire area with tropical hedging. The resulting palms and bamboo create a contemporary tropical courtyard, fitting the brief beautifully.

The garden, which is predominantly viewed from above, incorporates strong-coloured simple bands of cascade lilly pilly, giant mondo grass, dwarf flax, giant bromeliad, purple flax, birds nest fern, kentia palm and multi-coloured jasmine.

The end result is both an innovative and beautifully integrated pool complex for the owners of this home. The visual simplicity of the design and use of quality materials unify the project, setting the components well into the surrounding landscaped gardens to create a contemporary tropical resort.

Originally from Poolside, Volume 46

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Real pool: Sophisticated relaxation https://www.completehome.com.au/pools-spas/real-pool-sophisticated-relaxation.html Thu, 11 Feb 2016 04:52:48 +0000 https://www.completehome.com.au/?p=23229 Impeccably designed tranquillity

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Impeccably designed tranquillity

A tasteful combination of colours and materials gives an aesthetically superior finish to this flawless design. Urban Escape is responsible for the design, construction and landscape of this contemporary, relaxed family oasis. The finished project is a classy and cool outdoor retreat that embodies Urban Escape’s namesake.

The clients, a couple who work long hours, requested an outdoor area where they could relax and unwind with their children in an environment that boasted a wow factor. A contemporary design using natural and timeless materials, including stone and hardwoods, gives this tranquil poolscape an earthy sophistication. The rectangular pool is 9m x 4m and makes great use of what was once wasted space.

The lush garden is abundant with sturdy foliage, blending seamlessly with its poolside location. The plants are largely tropical to give the elegant poolscape a relaxing vibe. Among the beautiful elements of this carefully considered project, the water feature enables the design to strike the perfect balance between sophistication and relaxation.

Practicality was also a priority in the design, with a fully automated operating system and the inclusion of an outdoor shower.

The featured pool is environmentally friendly with solar heating, rain water tanks, three speed pumps and pool covers for reduced energy usage on cleaning and heating.

Embodying its philosophy that a design is only as good as the demands it meets, Urban Escape has created a luxurious but relaxing family sanctuary.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Urban Escape

Address: 48/28 Barcoo Street, Roseville NSW 2069

Phone 02 9417 8004

Mobile 0416 180 530

Email nick@urbanescape.com.au

Website urbanescape.com.au

 

Originally from Poolside, Volume 46

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Building with pride: Pool renovation https://www.completehome.com.au/pools-spas/building-with-pride-pool-renovation.html Thu, 21 May 2015 05:57:26 +0000 A renovation project with a perfect result

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A renovation project with a perfect result

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David Wylie and Brian Formosa of Design Pools undertook an extensive renovation project for clients who complained of their pool having extensive structural problems.

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About a decade old, the pool was literally breaking in half and the team from Design Pools stepped in to repair the structural damage and ensure the pool is ready for use for many years to come.

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To add a newer, contemporary look to the large outdoor area surrounding the pool, Design Pools also created a stunning water feature, tiled and granite planter boxes and an outdoor living cabana.

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The team at Design Pools can construct more than just pools. As qualified builders, David and Brian can take on any job, big or small, including the construction of new pools and cabanas, new homes and house and pool renovations.

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With a company philosophy of “build with pride”, Design Pools guarantees its work and offers a full service from the first consultation with a prospective client, to the handover at the end of a project.

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Design Pools also supplies and fixes all pool filtration, equipment and heating systems. Design Pools — a complete service, each and every time.

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Project details:
Pool renovated by Design Pools

Originally from Poolside magazine Volume 33

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Entertainment area plus https://www.completehome.com.au/pools-spas/entertainment-area-plus.html Thu, 21 May 2015 05:46:01 +0000 A great new entertainment area completes an amazing home extension

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A great new entertainment area completes an amazing home extension

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David Wylie and Brian Formosa from Design Pools are more than just pool builders. In this case, they have created a pool, cabana and outdoor entertaining area and even an extension to the existing home. Designed by the team at Design Pools in conjunction with Brandon Wallis, the pool and entertainment area has injected this property, now an entertainer’s heaven, with a new lease on life. An interior of Beadcrete makes the pool look inviting, while a waterblade water feature adds eye-catching drama for those enjoying the cabana and barbecue area.

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David and Brian give you the chance to deal directly with your builder. Offering a team of fully qualified and licensed builders, carpenters and pool builders who are dedicated to providing quality workmanship and customer satisfaction, the company offers a comprehensive range of quality services for any project — from the construction of a stunning new pool and its surrounds to the creation of patios, pergolas, brick gazebos and more.

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The company works in conjunction with pool designers, architects, engineers and councils to ensure your personal vision can become reality. Design Pools also supplies and repairs all pool filtration, equipment and heating systems. The people at Design Pools pride themselves on quality and guarantee professionalism, efficiency and, above all else, experience.

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Project details:
Pool built by David Wylie and Brian Formosa of Design Pools
Pool designed by Design Pools and Brandon Wallis

Originally from Poolside magazine Volume 32

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A guide to pool features https://www.completehome.com.au/pools-spas/a-guide-to-pool-features.html Fri, 13 Mar 2015 00:10:43 +0000 Sometimes pools need something extra to create a focal point or a feature. Here's three favourite options:

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Sometimes pools need something extra to create a focal point or a feature. Here’s three favourite options:

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Traditional lion’s head fountains can be a fantastic addition to any classically-styled pool design. It’s a focal point and water feature in one.

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Mirrored surfaces can be super effective in creating interest and the appearance of space in your pool area.

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Fountains and water features can range from simple contemporary styles to ornate and elaborate.

Written by Lauren Farquhar

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