Table of contents for No. 50 - Year Book 2017 in Poolside

Each year, SPASA Victoria showcases excellence in the swimming pool and spa industry at their annual Awards of Excellence Gala Dinner, this year held at the MCG. These prestigious Awards cover a range of categories from finished pool and spa installations to the latest equipment innovations. Judges may award a gold and/or highly commended, or no award, in each category. The Awards of Excellence are designed to: – Promote achievement in design, construction, innovation and professionalism across the industry – Encourage a high degree of competency and professionalism by members – Provide a means and opportunity for consumers to identify award winners The following pages contain a selection of some of the most inspiring winning entries from this year’s Awards.…

When the clients are water sports enthusiasts with school-aged children, this is the kind of amazing creation you can expect to receive thanks to Jade Swimming Pools. The geometric pool consists of a water slide for the kids, as well as a water feature along the side wall. This allows for both a child-friendly playground and a resort-style atmosphere for the adults. The owners also requested that their mother’s needs be taken into account for when she uses the pool, so a grab rail was installed, as well as a ladder for additional access for other family members. This pool certainly isn’t limited in versatility and caters to all ages. Situated on an 855sqm block, with a slope at the front of the property and wide frontage tapering towards the…

Raising the bar, or should we say spa, is this stunning creation by Form Pool Design. The pool’s linear and rectangular shape is quite traditional in style, but some modern design elements provide that resort living atmosphere, most notably a raised spa, offering the ultimate in luxurious living and outdoor entertainment. Another contemporary feature is that the perimeter of the pool and spa is surrounded by bluestone and decking. The brief from the owner was for a pool that could be utilised for both personal and entertainment purposes. With the inclusion of a spa and nearby firepit, this space can now be used year-round by family and guests. Located in Melbourne’s beautiful leafy south-eastern suburb of South Yarra, the home initially had very tight access to the backyard. This meant…

What do you do when you are contacted by a high-profile former Olympic swimmer to build his pool? You build one that wins awards and exceeds the client’s expectations. This was the task faced by Capital Fibreglass Pools when approached by their client, who has spent most of his life training in swimming pools and knew exactly what he wanted. Now retired from competitive swimming, it was important to him to have a pool not only for exercising and teaching his young children to swim, but also as a water feature to enhance the family’s alfresco area. The project involved the seamless integration of the existing outdoor areas and the new plunge pool located in the courtyard. Existing boundary fences, which incorporated brick pier and Colorbond infill, were all required…

A luxurious poolscape is created when a beautiful pool is surrounded by an equally outstanding landscape. It can be difficult to determine exactly what is needed to perfect your poolside, but often the decking can be the most striking element. With decking and timber features that are well cared for and tastefully designed, a polished and elegant finish is the likely outcome. Versatile enough to be used for decks, pergolas, prominent features or furniture, timber continues to play a vital role in the modern landscape. The effect can be as subtle as incorporating an element of polish into a more rustic space, or as bold as using timber to give your landscape a special lift. A practical but elegant decking area, large striking woodwork and intricate timber designs are just…

Having a pool in your own backyard is quickly becoming a quintessential part of Australian life. But when it comes to maintaining it and ensuring it’s safe for the whole family, things can get tricky. With Remco’s PoolGuard, it’s easy to keep your pool clean, heated and safe. This multifunctional and durable approach is the perfect alternative to other run-of-the-mill cover options. Using state-of-the-art technology, this easy-to-install cover is the perfect option for families who don’t want to compromise on quality or convenience when it comes to their pool. A RANGE OF INNOVATIVE FEATURES When Remco’s designers created the PoolGuard, they wanted it to be something that families all over Australia could count on. This is why it includes a host of incredible features that truly make it stand out…

ARISTONE’S ALLURING BLUES Aristone’s crisp white pool renders capture the brilliance of the sky and surrounding light by using a pure-white base and incorporating long-lasting flecks of coloured ceramic or glass beads. Offering a silky smooth finish and enduring brilliance, an Aristone render is synonymous with elegance. Whether you are building from scratch or thinking about rejuvenating an existing concrete pool, an Aristone rendered pool will add value and sophistication to your home. Visit the company’s recently refreshed website aristone.com.au to learn more. PORTABLE FIRE SOLUTIONS EcoSmart Fire’s trans-seasonal fire solutions are constructed from robust, weatherproof materials and a lightweight concrete composite, which makes them easy to relocate depending on your entertaining or decor needs. EcoSmart Fire’s concrete collection features several multi-purpose designs that bring versatility and flexibility to indoor…

STEP ONE: DO THE GROUND WORK Consider what functions you need Look at the overall property and determine everything you require. Take into account your lifestyle, and whether you entertain in large or small numbers, how often you entertain, the size of your family and the future needs of the children. Analyse your property Evaluate your property, taking into account size, north-facing locations, sun and shade, noisy neighbours, nearby roads, prevailing winds and potential views. Then decide where the best position for your pool will be with these aspects in mind. Establish your budget Consider your budget for your swimming pool project. Remember to take into account surrounding paving, entertaining areas, gardens and pool fencing. Work out your timeframe Can all the works be undertaken simultaneously or does the project…

The swimming pool and gardens of this property dated back to the early 1980s and were given a major makeover by Shaun Wright, senior design manager of A Total Concept Landscape Architects & Swimming Pool Designers. It included the extensive refurbishment of an existing swimming pool and integrating the pool into new external entertaining areas of a cabana/ granny flat, outdoor room and garden areas for the owners to relax and socialise. Shaun believes in looking at a property as “a total concept” and on this project he created a contemporary swimming pool with stunning landscaped surrounds including lawn and outdoor room, enabling the potential of the property to be maximised. “We removed the circular ends of the pool and incorporated a new spa, steps and swimout central to the…

This impressive pool is reminiscent of the opulent baths of the Roman Empire. Everything about it oozes elegance, from the clean structured lines to the luxurious daybeds and strong pillars. The pool was designed by the homeowner in conjunction with Michael Suttor Architects, and built by Pride Pools. Its generous proportions and balanced design create a unique space that resonates with a feeling of grandeur. The pool is fully tiled with pink tiles, giving it a very subtle and soft blue hue. A wide internal step leads to an expansive leisure ledge, which continues down the length of the pool. Although reminiscent of another era due to its classic styling, the pool is packed with 21st-century technology. A PCC 2000 in-floor cleaning system is programmed for every contour, while an…

This space was designed and built to provide the privacy, entertainment and functionality the homeowners desperately required of their inner-city Enmore residence. The result of a clever design by GOODMANORS Pool + Garden, the space now boasts an impressive alfresco area, outdoor lighting and a sleek and unexpected plunge pool. The well-executed outdoor space not only offers room for wining, dining and swimming, but also provides the practicality of hidden builtin storage for the pool equipment, dryer and bins, plus a secure parking space for the resident’s car. To maximise the tight space, it was decided the pool would sit right on the boundary, with the rendered blockwork rising out of the pool as the boundary barrier. High-level consideration at the design stage, and complexity in construction technique, ensured an…

This cool and crisp pool and spa duo in Mornington was designed in conjunction with the homeowner, who had fallen in love with the idea of the four-sided negative-edge spa while on holiday. In order to bring this modern pool to life, Steven Lord of Coastal Pools & Spas worked closely with the owner to design a pool and spa combination that would be a practical addition to their backyard. Although access to the site was reasonable, more than 30 truckloads of fill were removed to excavate the pool area. The spa also required a significant amount of extra steel and concrete to build it above the water level of the 12m-long pool. Positioned at one end of the pool is a gorgeous water feature set into the wall, from…

Despite its limited size, this small backyard in Melbourne’s south-east has been completely transformed into a fantastic outdoor area with a spacious feel. “It’s an amazing transformation with a superb result, showcasing that you can still have the complete package in a smaller space,” say Tim Sprague and Stephen Lloyd, co-owners of Kiama Landscaping & Pools. The homeowners, a young family, envisaged an outdoor space that not only looks amazing, but feels warm and inviting — an area that they could enjoy for many years. Designed by Cycas Designs, the space features a rectangular plunge pool tiled with stunning Bisazza glass tiles, a light box feature panel by Lump Sculpture, and an eye-catching vertical garden feature wall that runs alongside the 6.5m-long pool. Kiama Landscaping & Pools also carried out…

Thanks to its sparkling interior by Blue Glass Pebble Company, this pool dazzles and shimmers brilliantly in the bright Australian sun. Blue Glass Pebble Company is one of Australia’s premier suppliers of glass pool finishes for concrete pools. The product, made from glass pebbles and New Zealand pebbles, is smooth, fade-resistant, easy to care for and easy to install. Fully premixed to ensure batch consistency and to maintain the company’s famously high-quality control standards, there are no risks taken with sending out raw material for application onsite. Available in 11 stunningly beautiful and vibrant base colours, which can be mixed and matched to give you thousands of design options, this colourfast product is unrivalled in the pool industry and guaranteed by an industry-leading 10-year warranty that cannot be matched. The…

A fully automated pool and spa with minimal maintenance and maximum enjoyment was high on the agenda of these Victorian homeowners. With amazing smart home technology now available for both inside and outside spaces, it makes perfect sense to use it for the pool and spa. iPhone and iPad control was integrated with the property’s in-house system, as well as the dual gutter system around all four sides of this wetdeck pool to allow amazing refraction of light in the evening and during the day. Designed by Eugene Gilligan Garden Design, this unique garden also boasts a stylish entertaining area, enhanced by a cabana at the northern end of the 12m-long rectangular pool — the perfect spot for indoor/outdoor entertaining. Natural stone coping and Bisazza glass tiles add to the…

This combination spa and pool design by Endless Spas and Pools offers the homeowners the customised lifestyle they need, giving them the opportunity to enjoy their backyard all year round. Providing something for the kids as well as the parents, this Endless Smooth Edge Dual Zone features two separate units, spa and plunge pool, each able to operate independently from the other and easily customisable for any backyard. Cool down in the plunge pool on those scorching Australian days, then warm up in the spa when the stars come out. For those looking to relax, each section is equipped with massage and hydrotherapy features for that wind down at the end of a long day. Thermal covers are included so you never need to be concerned about wasted energy consumption…

Having just built a new home, this Melbourne homeowner, one half of a corporate couple, had a very clear idea of what she wanted when it came to the pool, and drove the ideas process. “The pool was to be very simple as the entire place is beautifully done in a simple style, which is reflected in the outside as well,” says pool designer Josh Schwal from Southern Cross Pools. The L-shaped house wraps around the 8m-long pool, which was to be a visual feature from the house, situated on a fairly flat site with a marginal slope. “There is a view of the pool from every room in the house — it’s simple but glamorous,” says Josh. “The pool is a focal point from every part of the residence,…

Thanks to the design and construction expertise of Fifth Season Landscapes, the owners of this Sydney property have a garden that exceeds expectations. The enticing, easy-to-use entertainer’s garden seamlessly blends classic stone and timber with contemporary polished concrete and curved glass. “The brief was to update an existing outdoor space by providing an adaptable weatherproof area that would allow for winter sun and natural light. We were also asked to provide adequate space for outdoor dining, along with a built-in cooking area,” says Phil Antcliff, a director of Fifth Season Landscapes. Of equal importance was ensuring the new space forged a seamless connection with the existing garden areas, which included a swimming pool. “To this aim, the pivotal point in the garden is the spotted gum decking. It is the…

Modular, or above-ground, pools offer a more affordable and convenient alternative to their concrete and fibreglass counterparts. Sterns Pools is dedicated to providing Australian pool owners with high-quality modular pools that won’t break the bank, yet still make a stunning visual statement in even the most discerning landscapes. This featured product by Sterns Pools is no exception; it offers style and sophistication without the high costs that are usually associated with such a luxurious backyard addition. For homeowners who are on a budget or have difficult access sites, Sterns Pools is the company to talk to. Its affordable modular components can be easily transferred to the backyard through a side pathway and professionally installed in less than a day. These pools are low maintenance but highly durable due to superior…

YOU CAN DROP AQUABOCCI DRAINS ON BONDI BEACH AND THEY ARE GUARANTEED NOT TO RUST OR TEA STAIN Revolutionary drainage products A drainage system should do more than carry water to the outlet – it should be a design element that is versatile and functional. At the core of every Aquabocci product is a specialized drainage system that has been designed for a specific purpose – draining a door track, a shower or even an overflow swimming pool. Aquabocci’s uncompromising originality has won international acclaim, with many installations completed on high-end projects around the globe. A timeless linear design and bold colour selection is consistent throughout the entire product range. The result is a brilliant blend of form and function that looks back to straight lines of the 1980s and…

The perfect pool surrounds require almost perfect chemistry. It’s about having a beautiful look, a soft feel underfoot and a safe surface that remains slip-resistant when wet. The most suitable surfaces include softer, natural stones, concrete or terracotta paving and brick, but these are also the most porous, readily absorbing liquids that can stain or damage the paving. Food and beverages are the obvious enemies. When oils are absorbed into the paving, the marks can be hard to clean, sometimes becoming permanent. Water can be an even more serious problem. Rainwater and groundwater are full of dissolved minerals that can mark, clog and even break up a porous surface. Water from saltwater pools can be especially damaging, causing salt efflorescence and rapid deterioration of softer materials if not properly treated.…