urban oasis

Although only five minutes from central Auckland, this pool is nestled in a gully filled with 100-year-old redwoods, where often the only sound is from the locusts and birds. So as not to disturb the harmony of the woodland setting, or the roots of the redwoods, excavations for the pool had to be minimal. With the help of landscape designer Susan Warrington and pool builder Nigel Donaldson the owners opted for a relatively small, curved concrete pool with a uniform depth of 1.6m. The pool design was kept simple in order to link it visually with a creek that winds through the mature trees below. Large boulders line the edge of the pool closest to the creek, and small ferns and the native groundcover Pratia angulata enhance the natural setting. The emphasis on simple, natural materials is continued around the side of the pool nearest to the house, which is finished with a grey coping tile. The pool bottom is exposed aggregate with a white marble chip adding an extra sparkle to the water, even on overcast days. Mainly native plants were chosen for the sloping ground between the pool and the creek, but planting nearer the house includes a number of sub-tropical species such as palms, black taro and philodendron.

Landscaping by Susan Warrington Landscape Design (09-278 0895). Pool built by Nigel Donaldson (294 8826) using Kaiawa pebbles and black marble plaster from Eden Stone (09-525 0709). Grey coping tiles from W Stevenson & Sons (09-294 8841).

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