Ultimate Plunge Pool

A jet black interior finish gives the perception of endless depth in this pared back plunge pool.

Barrier Reef Pools owner Brad Hilbert said the owners of the Mosman Park home wanted to create an understated pool area that didn’t look like your usual swimming space. “The home itself is quite minimalistic and on a long and narrow block so the owners didn’t want anything over the top; they wanted to keep the area quite raw and minimal,” Mr Hilbert said. Opting for a small 4.7m long fibreglass plunge pool, Mr Hilbert said the small backyard and less than a metre access down the side of the home meant the pool had to be lifted over the home and into place with a 100-tonne crane.

Natural concrete pavers from Eco Outdoor surround the pool with a rebated edge, which folds down to meet the water line. Mr Hilbert said this made the pool look more like a concrete installation and negated the need for waterline tiles, which was in keeping with the non-traditional streamlined appeal. The pool area has been softened with an array of lush plantings around the fence line, which not only provide greenery but privacy, while a single LED light was all that was needed to illuminate the water at night.

Mr Hilbert said while many pool areas were the main feature of a backyard, this design’s non-traditional approach, by pulling back on the features, has created an understated work of art that blends with its contemporary site.