Built By Aqua-Link Pools and Spas. Designed By David Pedersen Engineered by Watershape Consulting
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary backyard aboveground pool in Orange County with a water feature and tile.

This project, completed for a client in Sugar Land, Texas, was authorized by the homeowner and the architect and was done in conjunction with the efforts of the builder. Its minimalist approach to vegetation, its custom swimming pool design, and its unique hardscapes offer the reader an excellent example of contemporary landscape design. There were a lot of challenges to designing a pool that worked with the architecture of the home and fit the available space in the back yard. To understand the unique nature of the pool, we have to take a closer look at the home. The house features a number of curved facades and unique angles. Instead of a traditional back porch, it features a custom stonework patio and an outdoor kitchen. The pool is elevated above the shrub palette to make it level with the floor of the house. This compensates for the drop in elevation on the way to a lake that is located just beyond the property line. The back patio is made from sandstone laid over a concrete base. It double functions as a deck and as a floor of the summer kitchen that leads straight to the water’s edge. Such a fusion of human architecture with natural elements is common in contemporary landscape design. It is further reinforced by custom water jets built along the patio’s edge using a special construction technique. Our design team predetermined the location of each stone. Intersections of the stones were marked, and the pipes which eventually fed the jets were installed before setting the stone in place. This creates the very powerful illusion that the water is springing from the stone itself. It is perhaps the most effective method of extending the geometry of manmade forms into the natural world beyond as if to establish the supremacy of mind over the raw elements of nature. To continue the home’s architecture, we had to build the pool in a rectilinear shape with a decidedly curved edge that reflected the unique facades of the home. This enables the pool to better connect with the landscape as it gently arcs through the vegetation. This works to establish the preeminence of home architecture over the entire yard. This is a common and very powerful theme found in most contemporary landscape designs. Guests standing on the back patio get the sense that the design of the home itself has been extended infinitely into the yard—making it appear as though it is an actual part of the home. The top of the coping slopes down to the water at a 45 degree angle, creating a marked aesthetic that mirrors the grade of the yard that slopes toward the lake in the distance. This is an example of curved facades and walkway surfaces. The upper story and windows overhang the front wall and the contemporary style front door. We accented the scene with a small birch tree and low growth boxwood shrubs, dwarf yaupon, agapanthus, and nandina. We also planted Bermuda grass, which looks very good cut very short and retains its color. Bermuda grass is often used in contemporary landscape design to line stone walkways and to contemplate small shrubs.

Mid-sized transitional backyard rectangular lap pool in Indianapolis with concrete slab.

James Queen
Mid-sized traditional backyard rectangular lap pool in Orange County with natural stone pavers.

Mid-sized transitional backyard rectangular lap pool in Detroit with a hot tub and natural stone pavers.

Mid-sized traditional backyard rectangular pool in Other with a water slide and natural stone pavers.

Nothing short of spectacular, this infinity zero edge pool with its four sheer descent waterfalls epitomizes an adult-oriented retreat. Built into a reverse slope, its irregular geometric shape echoes the clean lines of the surrounding hardscape. The pool is finished in black Armorcoat and enveloped by raised, black, polished tile walls which create a sense of enclosure. A spa, tanning deck, and indoor-outdoor eating areas complete this urban getaway. (20 x 36, custom geometric shape)

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary backyard rectangular lap pool in New Orleans with a pool house and concrete pavers.

Request Free Quote This swimming pool in Lake Bluff, IL measures 20'0" x 40'0", and the raised hot tub measures 8'0" x 8'0". The hot tub features a sheer waterfall feature that spill onto an ample sunshelf measuring 6'0" x 20'0" and sporting bubbler water features. Both the pool and hot tub have automatic pool covers. The pool and spa coping is Valders Wisconsin Limestone, and the deck is natural Bluestone. The seating area features a raised firepit with seating and an outdoor TV. Photos by Larry Huene

Our client wanted us to create a kid friendly usable backyard complete with custom pool with Dolphin waterslide, spa, landscaping, Sport Court, outdoor kitchen, multiple pergolas, new front entrance walkway and terraced retaining walls.

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary backyard custom-shaped infinity pool in Los Angeles with a hot tub and stamped concrete.

This young High Park neighbourhood family asked Betz to design a unique custom pool to enhance their backyard which was already brimming with leisure lifestyle features. A primary objective was to integrate the pool with the overall design.

IN 2021, PETE AND BECKY MEIER HIRED LANDSCAPE DESIGN WEST, LLC, TO CREATE AN EXTRAORDINARY RENOVATION DESIGN FOR THE CANYON PASS HOUSE LOCATED IN THE GATED COMMUNITY OF CANYON PASS AT THE PINNACLE OF DOVE MOUNTAIN, IN TUCSON, ARIZONA. EXISTING LANDSCAPE DID NOT COMPLIMENT THE OUTSTANDING ADJACENT DESERT NOR THE UNIQUE MARK SOLOWAY ARCHITECTURE. GOAL WAS TO CREATE A BEAUTIFUL DIALOGUE WITH THE ADJACENT DESERT AND RESIDENCE. DESIRED OUTCOME: INCREASE VISUAL APPEAL/LOWER WATER USE WITH NUMEROUS SPECIMEN SUCCULENTS AND A PLANTING DESIGN THAT IS INVITING, COLORFUL AND GRACIOUS, INCREASE YEAR AROUND COLOR AND BLOOMS TO ATTRACT NATIVE POLLINATORS SUCH AS BIRDS, BATS, HUMMINGBIRDS AND BUTTERFLIES MITIGATE DAMAGE TO PORTIONS OF THE PROPERTY PREVIOUSLY USED AS CONSTRUCTION STAGING AREAS LOWER WATER USAGE REPLACING EXISTING FAULTY IRRIGATION LOWER ENERGY/INCREASED NIGHTTIME LIGHTING AESTHETICS WITH A PROFESSIONAL DESIGN AND USING HUNTER/FX LED LIGHTING CHALLENGES: HILLSIDE/SLOPE WILDLIFE ROCKY SOILS DIFFICULT ACCESS Robin Stancliff Photography

"Vesta" was designed by Mark Pettes of MDP Landscape Consultants Limited and Pro-Land was hired to construct the project in 2012. The backyard landscape included a pool with spillover spa faced in natural stone. Tiered walls surrounding the pool create division between the turf area where the kids can play. We installed flagstone on all patio spaces and retaining/decorative walls. And the main lounge feature is the custom fireplace for cooler nights spent outside.

This is an example of a mid-sized backyard custom-shaped pool in Phoenix with a hot tub and concrete slab.

Tropical Light Photography.
Photo of a mid-sized asian courtyard rectangular infinity pool in Hawaii with a hot tub and natural stone pavers.

100% relaxation in your very own backyard
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional backyard pool in Toronto with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

A view of the horizontal volumes of the house that connect to the terrain beyond.
Mid-sized contemporary backyard rectangular infinity pool in Los Angeles with a hot tub and concrete slab.

This beautiful backyard is now the perfect oasis with this Bermuda-model fiberglass pool by Viking Pools. Special features include bubblers and deck jets, in addition to the great entertaining spaces this family is sure to enjoy. This pool was installed by Clearwater Fiberglass Pools in Louisville, KY.