Hi ctcc, if it is for recreation then 8m is fine if space is a constraint, though if you are wanting a lap pool primarily for fitness then ideally a 12m+ is probably the smallest you would want to go. If you are working with a confined space and fitness is a primary goal you may want to consider a swim spa. There is also some more information on lap pools in one of our blogs on custom pools: http://www.destinationliving.com.au/destination-living/creating-the-perfect-custom-pool/ Regards The Destination Living Team

The questions you are asking regarding boundary pool fence regulations etc., These will be specific to your council. We live all over Australia, and council regulations to vary. Contact your local council for boundary/pool information. When you say the house has been built with additional piers. Do you mean, it is structurally okay for a pool to be positioned anywhere in that area? My understanding if your pool is 1200 deep, then the pool needs to be 1200 deep from any structure. 1500mm, needs to 1500mm from structure etc. unless the building has been reinforced accordingly.

If you keep as per plan, with a 2.6 metre wide lounge, you did say 3.5 in your original post. Then I would place the lounge in the middle of the room, and the kids toys in the bottom left. But with the west facing bifolds, are you installing any shading over the alfresco. The room will get very hot if you are not. It is basically a pavilion, since it can be completely opened up, from west to east. But in a practical sense, would you really have the bifold doors open all the way? You know how you live, so you would know. Maybe later on you could have a pool table in there for the teenagers and their friends. And a fridge for drinks.....

Like everyone else -- there's so many factors involved . By the sounds of it , you want to really make a feature of this room , its presumably for kids , and without getting too sidetracked , have you thought about adding maybe a bar and a 'movie screen' and projector ? The bar then makes it adult and child use , but there's then the temptation for children to try a drink , but you are potentially doubling the usage ( obviously not totally suitable if the kids bedrooms are directly off this room , just a suggestion though ) . The projector and screen looks good , but also means you see it from anywhere in the room , so you don't have to worry about seating placement so much . As kids , Mum and Dad had more of a bar with a pool table , but Dad made us a table tennis table with things that sat in the pockets of the pool table , so we could lift it onto the pool table ( it had the net already attached ) , effectively halving the space required if you had both seperately .