Sydney and NSW’s best pools revealed
The backyard pool has now become the ultimate statement piece as cutting edge designs are all part of the hot price tag. See the list.
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The backyard pool has always been the perfect place to beat the heat but now it’s seen as a way to make your home much cooler — in all meanings of the word.
And as we can exclusively reveal, Sydney and NSW has led the way when it comes to the list of Australia’s 100 Cool Pools reveals.
“There’s no doubt Australians love their pools and you can see why,” said celebrity landscape gardener and TV star Charlie Albone, who was a special guest judge for 100 Cool Pools.
And if you are looking for pool envy, here are some great places to start.
Living Screen House, North Bondi
What do you do when you have a narrow site but you still want a pool? This clever solution by CplusC Architectural Workshop for a family in North Bondi not only solved some of the privacy issues inside the house but provided an instant visual connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. With one side of the house effectively providing the wall for the pool, light is refracted throughout the lower level of the house.
Harvey House Gallery & Sculpture Park
Everybody knows the best houses are those with their own beach and this private slice of sunny heaven is Bali, Thailand and Hawaii all rolled into one. The best part is you never have to leave home to make the most of summer. The only downside is the hordes of friends and family who want to dive into this five-star resort with pool bathroom and spa.
Tower’s Eye View, ANZ Tower, Sydney CBD
While the boast of this property being “the best penthouse in the world” might start some debate, it was worth making for the pool’s sake.
It’s a body of water that can match anything on offer in the great cities of the world. Forget taking your old boardies in there — it demands designer swimwear to match its looks.
Captain Piper’s Pleasure, Wunulla Rd, Point Piper
You might have thought it was impossible to improve on Sydney Harbour — but this does. And even though it is so close to a mass of land named Shark Island that you can almost touch it, there’s no chance of Jaws popping up in this pool.
Northern Beaches Cool, Northern Beaches
A pool was high on the list of priorities when this family moved into their new home at Newport. But architect Shaun Carter of Carter Williamson delivered so much more, with an LA-style outdoor entertaining space to complement the infinity pool to the side of the site. Given it’s on a steep site, the pool is supported by concrete pillars and cantilevers over the garden below. Nothing to it really.
Curved Oasis, Northbridge
Taking his cues from the curves of this Northbridge house designed by architect Luigi Rosselli, landscaper Dean Herald — director of Rolling Stone Landscapes — designed a curved pool for this steep site. Now known as the Curved Oasis, one wall of the pool extends 1.4m out of the ground, facing onto a covered pavilion perfect for outdoor entertaining. A spa at one end makes for an ideal spot for summer relaxation.
Midsummer’s Eve Waratah Rd, Palm Beach, NSW
This incredible Palm Beach pool has been seamlessly integrated into the functioning of its home. Just metres from Pittwater and Palm Beach itself, the pool ensures the home is like a mini-resort. And, if it gets to dinner and you have forgotten to have your daily swim, you’re sure to get a gentle reminder.
Erina Fair, Erina Valley Road, Erina
It is hard to work out what is more impressive — the pool or the house. This architectural dream home has a spectacular infinity pool that doubles up as a waterfall. The way of life at this Erina property revolves around the pool with most rooms having views, while entertaining can be done at the poolside terrace or swim-up bar.
Urbane Tourmaline, Margaret St, Rozelle
Inner city terrace homes are generally pressed for space but this conundrum has led to a stylish rooftop pool. Squeezed in a little nook beside the house and next door, the mosaic pool blends seamlessly into the rooftop space. The pool has a glass wall, water feature and a ladder to climb in. Once you’re finished, there are multiple entertaining and district views to enjoy.
Visit 100coolpools.com to see Australia’s best pools.
Additional reporting: Amanda Sheppeard, Matt Bell, Owen Roberts and Stephen Nicholls.
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Originally published as Sydney and NSW’s best pools revealed
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