Pool Design
Swimming is a wonderful way to cool off, have fun and get some healthy exercise, and one of the best places to swim is in a pool in your very own back yard. But for many Americans, installing a pool is about a lot more than digging a rectangle in the dirt. Swimming pools are now an important element in a yard’s overall landscape design and modern pools are created as much for aesthetic reasons as practical ones. Designing the perfect pool for your needs requires balancing your artistic preferences with the expected uses of the pool.
Michael Sorenson is the manager of the San Gabriel Office of California Pools and Spas, a company that designs and builds residential and commercial pools and spas. Specializing in unique, cutting edge designs, the company has been in business since 1952, and has received many industry awards for excellence. Here, Sorenson offers a basic guide to swimming pool designs:
* Lap pools. Swimming laps is considered one of the best overall body workouts, and many homeowners choose to install long, narrow pools made just for this purpose. Lap pools tend to be forty, fifty or sixty feet long, so you’ll need a lot of yard space to accommodate one.
* Play pools. Recreational pools, also called play pools, are another very popular option, especially for families with children. These pools tend to be shallow at both ends and slightly deeper in the middle, so that the entire floor of the pool is useful. Play pools come in many shapes and sizes to fit both your yard and your design style, and can be as simple or fancy as you wish.
* Infinity pools. In the last decade, Sorenson has seen increasing demand for a design called the infinity pool or rim flow pool. These pools are designed to promote the illusion that they have no edge, and the water simply cascades off an invisible rim or flows out to touch the sky. They are stunning to see and are particularly effective in properties where the land slopes away from the house.
* The yard environment. According to Sorenson, it is important to consider the overall yard design when planning a pool. You’ll want your pool to serve your particular needs, and lap swimmers will want different options than families who just want to splash around in the water. But no matter what your swimming style, there is a pool plan that can complement your yard and help create a beautiful and comfortable environment to surround your home.
An extreme pool