While the aesthetic goal of many Natural Pools is to look as natural as possible - like a crystal-clear pond or natural spring that you were lucky enough to build your home next to - others strive for a contemporary look that juxtaposes natural elements like plants, rocks and fish with formal edges and rectilinear shapes.
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As you can see above from the initial concept design to the final product, this natural pool (which we built in 2019 in Kansas City) features a rectilinear deck that wraps around two sides, a step-in pebble beach, central swimming area accessible from the deck and beach, and a "wild" planted filter area around two edges. The design also incorporated a pool house with bathroom, shower and outdoor kitchen. This natural pool was featured in an article in DesignKC Magazine, which you can read here.
Built by Total Habitat in 2019, the concept behind this natural pool was to blend the modern with the "wild". This concept fits aesthetically with the design of the overall site which features an ultramodern home and patio that is surrounded by native plants and grasses. Built around a large central deck, the pond edge to its right is bordered by formal coping stones that create a modern rectilinear shape, while the area to the left of the deck features a natural pond edge finished with river rock and plants. A modern waterfall carved from a rectilinear stone block completes the look and provides gentle water movement in the shallows.
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This natural pool was featured in the Wall Street Journal article, which you can read here.
At Total Habitat, we often create 3D concept renderings of our natural pool designs so homeowners can better envision how a space will look before it is completed. Because, let's face it - not everyone can look at a plan view drawing and truly see how it will look in real life like a designer can.
This design features a modern coping edge by the house and a "wild" planted edge opposite, with a natural stone waterfall positioned to be visible from both the upper deck and lower patio. The concept includes a step-in beach, rectilinear swimming area, and large formal stepping stones that lead the users from the house to the beach and wooden pier. Lush water plants explode along the far edge, creating a gorgeous natural display that contrasts with the hard, formal lines of the opposite edge.
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One of the really fun aspects of this design is the "floating" stepping stones that reach out over the water and border the beach and swimming area. Users can walk on these stones, sit with their feet in the water of the beach or use them to jump into the deeper swimming area.
An interesting side effect of modern natural pool design is how it allows the entire site to be sculpted as well, often through dividing the space into different activity areas using hard lines and geometric shapes. This Japanese-inspired design features a modern natural pool bordered by an L-shaped deck that divides the yard between the water feature on the right and a spacious entertaining area on the left. The pergola, fence and bamboo planter boxes on either side of the yard are all designed with a modern, Japanese garden aesthetic that echoes the design of the natural pool itself.
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This article was written by Total Habitat designer, Sophia Elniff.
All designs shown are protected under copyright, 2022.
All designs shown are protected under copyright, 2022.
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