A full backyard rebuild around a new concrete pool

The brief

A family home on a block that fell away from the house. The existing yard was lawn with a step down, no real outdoor living, and nowhere flat enough for a pool. The brief was a pool the kids could use, an alfresco that connected to the kitchen, and lawn that stayed green with the least possible upkeep.

What we did

We designed the levels first. A retaining wall along the rear boundary took out the fall and gave us one flat platform for the pool and the lawn. The alfresco paving runs straight out from the house at floor level, so there is no step between inside and out.

The concrete pool went in early, before paving, so the surrounds and the alfresco could be laid as one surface. Reticulation and low voltage lighting were run under the paving before it was laid. Planting along the boundaries is low and mostly native, with a few larger specimens for shade and screening.

The result

One crew on site for ten weeks, one site manager, and a handover on the date in the proposal. The family had the pool in before the summer holidays, and a maintenance visit every six weeks keeps the lawn and planting where they should be.