Solstice Daydream Break: 10 Breathtaking Swimming Pools

For those of us donning heavy coats and wrapping scarfs snuggly into our collars, swimming might be the last thing on our minds. However, a few Houzz fans from the Southern Hemisphere are merrily frolicking in their cement ponds as their summer solstice comes to pass.

Here are 10 splendid swimming pools by the Melbourne area landscape design company C.O.S. Design. From clever material combinations to challenging uses of space, each one illustrates how thoughtful design can create a special outdoor area worthy of year-round visual pleasure, no matter what the temperature is. Let us all take a virtual holiday and imagine floating carefree in these dreamy pools and appreciate what makes each one of these creations so remarkable.

Seating. Entry and exit points can be good places for clever design elements. Notice the steps in the water here. At left there are two steps down before it levels off. Then, before the next two steps, that level continues along the remaining left line of the pool’s edge. Though the idea is to swim, it is very nice to simply soak while resting on these underwater benches. They also give another place to climb in or out of the water.


Limited space. The small size of this pool area creates a nice sense of intimacy, which makes this space even more inviting. Consider that you really need only one way into the water. The dense hedge acts as a border and helps to define this as an outdoor room.

An outdoor shower backed by a contrasting colored tile wall at the far end is reflected in the detail for the fountain at center right within the pool. The remaining bright white pool tiles let the water take on the soothing aqua color with which swimming pools are associated.


Accessories. Several smartly placed elements in this landscape complement the simplicity of the long and narrow lap pool. At the far end, in stark contrast, a mounted sculptural branch provides a focal point and delicately breaks the plane of the wall on which it is applied. A small covered pavilion to the left provides a place in which to escape the sun on the pool side of the nearly invisible safety fence.

Projecting into the foreground, a rectilinear tiled planter rises out of the water to hold a long and narrow bed, holding sculptural agaves to decorate the pool’s edge. A concave fountain, set at the central axis to the house and patio, relieves the sharp angles of the architecture and spills a gentle ribbon of water into the pool. Another mounted sculpture at far left in the photo, this time convex, aligns with the fountain and punctuates the theme.


Backdrops. Though the water is what we want to see, the two ascending blockish forms create a backdrop that accentuates the luminance of the pool. In addition, these forms provide a place on which to add even more interest. Notice the visual balance achieved among the various rectilinear forms. The pool itself is merely a simple shape.


Overlapping elements. The overlapping planes of the pool and the architecture here unify the three distinct spaces of the house, water, and pool. This idea is carried through with the wood platform, as if it floats above the water, and the slight offset of the spa at the far end. The pool steps also overlap the shape of the spa. The overhang of the pool house makes a visual connection to the edge of the pool and shades the patio.


Lines. This pool’s elements reflect the contemporary lines of this home’s architecture. The detail in the bordering planter emphasizes the horizontal plane of the roofline and of the decking, which appears to float over the surface of the water. The lines give visual flow and confident definition, helping to highlight the extent of the pool itself.


LIghting. Lighting adds another complex dimension to spaces. Pools get extra attention because water can be so beautiful to illuminate. Much more time is spent seeing the pool than being in it, so giving the lighting careful attention will help you to appreciate the investment into the evening.

Not only is there abundant light in this pool, but the surrounding hardscape and landscape are generously lit. Certain plants are emphasized, and the textures and colors of materials are shown off.


Axis. Whether a pool aligns with an accessory structure or the main house, an axis provides a good relationship among these spaces. Here the pool house gives the space focus and elaborates the simple rectangle of the water. The decking gently steps down from the porch and abuts the pool, establishing an offset axis to the house. Notice that the decking is repeated directly on the other side of the pool, helping to emphasize this feature.


Mixed materials. A clever combination of materials blocked into rectilinear sections defines this pool. Mixtures are successful when their position and form make sense to the scheme.

The white plaster wall acts as an extension of the white walls of the house, providing a backdrop to the water. The stone wraps planters that accent the wall and provide contrast. The wood deck appears to float above the water. The planter at the right side near the end rises from the water with the same material as the pool and holds more plants.


Three dimensions. Though pools have depth, of course, it is easy to think of them as two-dimensional because we see the shape of the pool and its surface. Elements that extend upward from the architecture of the pool itself, as in previous examples and this one, add a sense of privacy that is often desirable.

The inset granite detail here acts as a dramatic fountain. Its height helps with privacy while providing a more complex visual dimension. Notice that the bench concept is used again under this fountain. Who would not want to swim to this place?

More: Pool inspiration and design guides in the Houzz Outdoor Living section

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