The big splash

Pools and pavilions come in all shapes and sizes and there is a real movement for them to be both natural looking and functioning

- ZIA ALLAWAY

1 IN THE SHADE A simple pavilion close to a pool offers shade and shelter for bathers. Harriet Farlam and Ben Chandler of Farlam & Chandler created a louvred timber pavilion for this country garden, complete with fireplace and armchairs, that works sympathetically with the colours of the pool and limestone pavers and brings a sense of modernity to the design. ‘This pavilion is designed to feel like a snug, with a sunken terrace creating a sense of enclosure and timber screens that hide a pathway behind. An avenue of pleached trees runs adjacent to the screens, and planting on either side softens the lines of the structure,’ says Harriet.

2 ELEMENT OF SURPRISE ‘For a naturalistic design, embed a swimming pond into a landscape of flowers, shrubs and trees,’ says Patricia Fox of Aralia Garden Design. ‘About a third of these pools are filled with plants, which act as a natural filtration and also help to blur the line between the water and surrounding garden. Here, we upgraded an old rectangular pool, but you could opt for curved sides to mimic a natural pond. The perennial plants, meadow and trees that surround the pool also mask it from the house, adding an element of surprise as you walk through the garden and suddenly come across the water, while the poolside deck and seating areas offer beautiful views of the planting.’