This property was owned by a stone and paver supplier which allowed for an eclectic use of great products to create this tropical resort style home in Clontarf.
The existing studio located at the rear of the property was unsightly when viewed from the open style living and kitchen areas of the property and foreshortened the large lawn area leading immediately from the home. It was decided to turn a negative aspect to as positive by placing the tropical style plunge pool forward of the studio with a 2400mm high stone feature wall to the ear of the pool to screen the studio and all filtration equipment reached by a hardwood timber walkway.
The pool itself was designed in a simplistic geometric shape with an innovative recessed area in the pool with around 200mm of water cover. This area is wide enough to allow lounge chairs and daybeds to be positioned in the pool allowing guests to drape a hand in the water to cool off without having to move an inch.
The vertical edge of pool coping is approximately 120mm deep with a 25mm shadow line beneath which makes the pool have a floating style appearance. To the boundary side of the pool an elevated stone clad garden area was constructed to restrict young children from running around the pool and to visually extend and ground the stone feature wall to the rear.
A green-grey interior tile was used to create a tropical feel and to ‘soften’ the water colour. The appearance of the pool changes from green to blue to grey to black depending on the time of day and the appearance of the sky.
An internal bathroom in the house was extended outside to provide a resort style feel with the inclusion of a large stone-like bath and stone wall with feature spouts, all set over random sized stepping stones interlaced with pebble that extend outwards from the home itself. This area is made very private with the inclusion of Himalayan Weeping Bamboo to the perimeter.
The original sloping lawn area was made level with a surrounding sandstone wall which allowed some of the pool excavation to be utilised on site and created a large lawn area for barefoot child play.
Throughout the property large existing trees such as Blackbean and glossy leafed Camellias were kept complimenting the new tropical style planting.
The entry garden to the property has been designed in a similar tropical style utilising large artifact pots and urns and all the same materials as the rear to unify the whole and create ‘a total concept’.
