Greek philosopher Empedocles identified four elements of nature: air, earth, fire and water. This was expanded by others to include space and modern-day yoga often focuses on those five elements to improve health and attain greater knowledge, wisdom and happiness.
Philosophy, mindfulness, meditation, or simple relaxation all have roots in the Five Elements Theory and we can connect to these elements in a single backyard sitting by the swimming pool.
Applied Theory
Immerse yourself in the scene below and you can breathe the fresh air; touch the earth, stone and vegetation; feel the warmth of the fire; reflect upon the natural-looking water; and explore the entire space while gently and peacefully stimulating all of the senses.
The fire elements include a natural rock ring, a small stone urn filled with broken glass, and a pair of rusted bowls that look a bit like large gold-panning dishes.
The stone deck and zero depth entry to this freeform pool invites guests into the water – with their shoes still on!
The palapa provides a focal point and destination in this Poway estate.Conceived as a Hawaiian retreat, the palapa isn’t too far from the bar.Incorporating the same materials as the pool, a stone footrest frames the base of the stucco wall that matches the house.The outdoor kitchen provides plenty of space for hosting large parties.To get the palapa’s posts to the edge of the pool we engineered custom welded baseplates that split the posts like a blade, hidden beneath the rope detail.Fire does not need formal containment. A simple rock outcropping provides plenty of room to sit or elevate your feet at the warmth of the flameThe stone decking gently bends down to create the zero-depth entry, inviting guests into the shallows.The floating steps require a little adventure to find as the path is not immediately noticeable upon entering the yard. Crossing the path and adjacent water feature clears the mind and prepares guests for their relaxing retreat in the palapa.Although extensive electrical lumens were incorporated into the design, the four fire elements continuously dance the flame’s natural light upon the surrounding surfaces. It’s a magical experience that feels a bit like the tiki torches illuminating the paths of a Hawaiian resort.True arcs intersecting at expected tangents result in pleasing natural lines to define the water’s shape.
Have you ever noticed that most advertisements for resorts include the swimming pool? There is a subconscious biological reason for this: Blue Mind. It is the result of great marketing but it only works after great planning has created a winning watershape – a memorable pool that makes guests want to stay for lunch and drinks throughout the day.
We begin our lives in amniotic fluid that is remarkably similar to seawater. Our bodies are made up of about the same amount of water as that which covers Mother Earth (71%). We are attracted to water and when we search for the ideal vacation destination we instinctively pursue resorts with beautiful pools.
Successful resorts require more than just surficial details. Elements and principles of design are tools but they must be applied to the project with a keen sense of expected use and flow of guests entering, interacting with, and leaving the space.
The Villa Resort
For example, a client wished to have one large resort pool but the concept was flawed because the expansive size dividing the property meant that guests had to traverse a long path around the watershape to reach the other side where restaurants and other amenities were located. Additionally, the 4 star resort would likely attract guests without kids and it seemed prudent to have an “adult pool” free of youthful noise and distractions.
The site also had a slight grade to it so we conceived a vanishing edge adult pool 30″ higher than the family pool, separated by a winding wood “bridge” that would also allow guests direct access across and between the two watershapes.
This draft resort concept sketch was developed for a specific site and included several desired features discussed with the clients during the initial kickoff meeting. The primary purposes of this sketch was to open up a more detailed dialog about concepts and details with the client before moving to the schematic design phase of the project.
Plenty of sun-shelves supporting in-pool lounge chairs, multiple hot tubs, arbors and sail sunscreens provided options for relaxing and rejuvenating. A beach entry, sand-bottom wading pool and small waterslide provided hours of entertainment for younger kids as well.
Resort planning begins with a programming document that attempts to list and rank the many competing goals of the project.
This ‘Cabin’ in the Hamptons, with it’s distinctly long cantilevers, demanded an equally dramatic long lap pool. Designed by Jasmit Singh Rangr, founder of Rangr Studio, the bold home is distinguished by clean lines integrated into its site without disturbing anything beyond its footprint. The architectural coordination of the watershape’s design is a perfect match with the home.
The spa sits at the corner of the deck and this vanishing edge pool literally disappears into the forest. The design incorporates bright coping which draws your eyes to the edge.
The vanishing edge pool reaches into the forest the same way the home stretches its cantilevers into the environment. For a better look at the project visit Rangr Studio.
Below the wood deck is a coil of floating slats that roll out to cover the pool and retain heat when the pool is not enjoyed for its beauty or functionality.
Looking back at the dramatic house from the vanishing edge of the pool.The vanishing edge pool sits on 36 timber piles driven into the soft soil.
This project was a major remodel of a pool and pavilion, complete with a warm covered outdoor living room.
There were actually two pools here – the one you see and the shattered one that was crushed by expansive soils and used as the form for the visible pool. Yes, it’s a pool within a pool.
Outdoor living as seen from the new outdoor kitchen. The house is to the left. The pool pavilion is “across the pond” – a destination that feels like you’ve actually left the house and traveled to a resort.
This small valley in Olivenhain California had a couple of other famously cracked pools within its highly expansive soils. It was the primary reason that we actually eliminated the in-floor cleaning system and broken single main drain instead of splitting it into a safe pair – I just didn’t want the risk of one small leak wreaking havoc on the structure.
Outdoor Living
This former patio was enclosed with new walls, custom doors, a solid roof, and new stone flooring leaving only one side open to the pool and yard. The glass doors at the right side connect to an indoor pool room with a billiards table.The custom door at the rear wall is matched symmetrically with one on the right. Both open up the space for fresh air to an open space behind the pavilion where a small sports court exists. Many details included wrought iron as a rustic theme to the remodel.The columns, wrought iron and wall below the wrought iron were original. We added the trellis and built out the waterfeature and spillways to provide white noise against the sidestreet beyond. The bamboo screen became temporarily necessary when an unexpected freeze killed the shrubs on the other side of the wall.The covered section beyond is the new outdoor kitchen with a large bar and firetable.Polished and sealed concrete countertops, complete with cracks and uneven color, continued the rustic look of the large U-shaped outdoor kitchen.New La Cantina doors and a feat of structural engineering allowed us to open up large walls to connect the indoor living space to the backyard, blurring any barriers.
Opposite the indoor pool room was a small building that was a shed, workshop and pool equipment room. It was cleared out and remodeled into a guest bedroom and bathroom with certain finish details matching the new outdoor theme.
The original spa was a mess after the pool-in-a-pool concept left the jets poorly functioning and at silly elevations. We raised it about a foot and added seventeen 1″ Tishways – named after my friend David Tisherman. The glass tile was made by Walker Zanger.
Before. . .
This single image shows the original patio, pool with raised red cast-in-place coping, and the original wrought iron fence and columns beyond (see the waterfeature image above).
