Curvaceous and connected

Designed by Matt Searle, Mace Landscape Group

From the designer:

Summary

Designed to enhance everyday living, this residential landscape brings together pool, deck, lawn and garden spaces into a cohesive outdoor retreat. 

Taking cues from the existing site vernacular, the bespoke curved pool fits in beautifully with the main living zone – creating a strong architectural edge while supporting a seamless connection to the home. 

Layered planting and a restrained material palette introduce privacy and softness, resulting in a relaxed, resort-like setting for both entertaining and family life.

Project description

Bringing together relaxation, entertaining and day-to-day living, this landscape design centres on creating a seamless extension of the home outdoors. 

The pool and surrounding deck form the heart of the space, positioned to connect directly with interior living areas and encourage easy flow between inside and out.

A defining feature of the project is the curved pool wall, which establishes a clear edge to the outdoor living zone while anchoring the design within the constraints of the existing site, as though it was always there. 

This structure allows the surrounding spaces to unfold naturally, with a balance of hard and soft elements shaping how the landscape is experienced.

Adjacent to the pool, a lawn area provides a flexible surface for recreation, complementing the more structured deck and entertaining zones.

Circulation through the site is now intuitive, with generous steps linking the entrance to the property with the main outdoor living space.

Material selection was deliberately simple and cohesive, reflecting the architectural language of the house and allowing the spatial arrangement to take precedence. 

Planting plays an important role in softening the built form, with a predominantly evergreen palette delivering year-round structure, low maintenance, and privacy, while moments of seasonal colour add interest.

The result is a calm, functional outdoor environment that feels both considered and effortless – supporting a range of uses while maintaining a strong sense of cohesion and connection to the home.

Key features / highlights

• Bespoke pool designed in response to site constraints, including level changes and the existing curved driveway retaining wall.
• Level threshold enabling seamless indoor–outdoor flow between the home, deck, pool and lawn.
• Subtropical planting palette that complements existing palms and enhances a private, resort-like atmosphere.

Design challenges & solutions

• The site presented complex level changes, along with an existing curved structural retaining wall along the driveway – turning constraints into opportunities, the design responds directly by shaping the pool to follow the geometry of the site – this allowed the layout to maximise the available space with a custom-designed specific site solution, resulting in a unique and visually cohesive form and a functional/ aesthetically pleasing pool area.
• Maintaining external access from the driveway to the main outdoor living area was a key requirement – this was resolved through a generous stair that integrates seamlessly with the curved pool wall, creating a functional and well-composed transition between levels.
• Construction logistics were challenging due to the long, steep right-of-way – in response, close coordination between Mace Landscape Group and Mayfair Pools was critical in overcoming these constraints, ensuring materials could be delivered and construction carried out effectively, ultimately achieving a high-quality result despite the demanding site conditions.

Story by: Trendsideas