A natural haven

Reminiscent of a rock pool, this ecofriendly swimming pond will evolve and adapt to the environment over time, adding to the biodiversity of the property.

- Mary Jane Harris

The climate in McGregor is one of the extremes with temperatures often reaching 35°C and over in midsummer. This was one of the reasons why Joni-Leigh Doran decided that a pool where she and her partner Adam Cruise could cool off was a necessity. However, as an artist who believes in living in harmony with nature, she wanted a pool that would blend naturally with the landscape.

Having seen a natural swimming pond created by Lyle Krimchanski and his builder Da Gaulle Papp at a friend's house, Joni-Leigh decided that they would be the ideal team to build hers. For the past seven years, Lyle has worked in the permaculture design field, exploring the relationship between the built and natural environment. "I've always been fascinated by freshwater features such as lakes, ponds, rivers, and rock pools and spaces where humans can connect with the natural world," he says.

After researching natural pools and swimming ponds, Lyle built a prototype on his property in McGregor, which has proved to be extremely successful. Other people in the area were interested in having similar pools, and since then Lyle and his team have built many more and are about to embark on their tenth.

The design

There are two key areas in this design: a central rectangle with deep open water used for swimming and shallow gravel-filled edges planted with a variety of aquatic plants. "The swimming area measures 6 x 2m, while the overall footprint is 9 x 5m," explains Lyle.

"The swimming area is separated from the edges by rock walls that enhance the natural look of the overall design. These retaining walls also hold the gravel on the sides in place."