Resort-style poolscape for outdoor entertaining

Poolscape by Rolling Stone Landscapes with large swimming pool, spa pool, stepping stones, weir water feature, outdoor kitchen

This pool pavilion has a wood deck that backyard, estate, home, house, property, real estate, resort, swimming pool, villa, teal, gray — This pool pavilion has a wood deck that protrudes out over the water, enhancing the sense of connection. With a bathroom and fully equipped kitchen incorporating a sink, barbecue, refrigerator and dishwasher, the pavilion is virtually self contained. Other features include a wood fire and wall-mounted television. Pool terraces provide plenty of additional places for relaxing there is also a shallow triangle in the pool so the owners and guests can lounge in the water. The landscape is by Rolling Stone Landscapes.

A large date palm balances the scale of architecture, condominium, estate, home, house, landscape lighting, leisure, lighting, property, real estate, resort, resort town, swimming pool, villa, blue

Made for laid-back entertaining this resort-style landscape architecture, condominium, estate, home, hotel, house, leisure, lighting, mansion, property, real estate, reflection, resort, resort town, sky, swimming pool, villa, blue

This home's landscape was designed by Dean Herald architecture, condominium, estate, evening, home, hotel, house, leisure, lighting, mansion, property, real estate, reflection, resort, resort town, sky, swimming pool, villa, water, blue

This home's landscape was designed by Dean Herald apartment, architecture, estate, home, house, interior design, leisure, lighting, property, real estate, reflection, resort, resort town, swimming pool, villa, water, blue, black

This home's landscape was designed by Dean Herald architecture, condominium, estate, home, house, interior design, landscape lighting, leisure, lighting, property, real estate, resort, swimming pool, villa, black, blue

This home's landscape was designed by Dean Herald apartment, architecture, condominium, estate, home, house, interior design, lighting, property, real estate, reflection, swimming pool, black

This home's landscape was designed by Dean Herald architecture, ceiling, daylighting, house, interior design, lighting, living room, real estate, black, gray

Scale and proportion are just as important to landscape design as they are to architecture. And when a house is large and contemporary, the landscaping needs to follow suit.

Landscape designer Dean Herald of Rolling Stone Landscapes was involved in this project right from the start when cows grazed on site.

"It's a very large 2ha site, well suited to the resort-style setting the owners wanted," Herald says. "A consistent gradient down from the street meant we could position the house, pools and a pavilion on the upper level, and step the landscaping down to a tennis court below."

As with all Herald's designs, integrating the landscape with the architecture was paramount.

"We even introduced water to the house right at the entry, with a long reflection pool that creates a line of sight out to the landscape beyond. Small fountains, or bubblers, add movement and sound, and help direct the eye. Water flows beneath stepping stones to cascade over a wet edge into the swimming pool. From here it falls over another weir at the other end of the pool, so the water is constantly moving."

The pavilion echoes the contemporary design of the house, and features a similarly large overhang with a chimney element. A wood deck cantilevering over the pool reinforces the resort look. The pavilion, which is also positioned to overlook the tennis court, provides a fully equipped outdoor kitchen, dining and lounging areas, a fireplace and stone-clad chimney, and a bathroom.

The tropical theme is further enhanced by a large date palm on one side of the pool. Herald says the height of the palm helps to keep the size of the pavilion in perspective.

"As soon as we put in the palm, everything fell into place the proportions were perfect."