When it comes to the architectural design of your home, the role of the architect extends beyond the walls of the house and out onto the site where it is located as well, especially when creating outdoor living spaces. In Texas, our architecture clients often want to include a pool on the site of their dream home to beat the summer heat. It is important to bring your home architect in on planning for the pool design to achieve proper outdoor flow and functionality through cohesive landscape architecture. The DK Studio architects are here to explain the role of an architect in designing your pool, why landscape architecture is important, and necessary design elements to consider.

Role of an Architect in Pool Design

Layout a Site Plan

Your architect will do more than design the shape of the pool for your outdoor space. They will layout a full site plan and fully integrate it into the home. This includes designing porches and patios, choosing placement for outdoor kitchens and firepits, and considering proper flow from inside to outside for a well-rounded yard.

At DK Studio, we take the architectural design process and apply it inside and out. This will include discussions with our clients about what they use their outdoor space for, how many people they typically entertain, and what their personal style choices are. We approach the pool and outdoor plan the same way we’d approach the home itself, with design and functionality at the forefront of every decision.

Match the Style of the Home

Another important consideration of pool design and landscape architecture is to match the style of the home to create a feeling of connectivity between the indoor spaces, home exterior, and outdoor areas. It is important for your pool to reflect the overall style of the home, and the best way to achieve that is by bringing in the architects who designed the house.

Our team of architects will make sure the pool and landscape design are properly integrated with the home. This will be achieved through spacial planning, recommendations for pool shapes, and forming a cohesive style and feel. For example, it would feel disjointed to have a sleek modern house surrounded by a rustic, Mediterranean style lagoon pool. A streamlined rectangular pool with an infinity edge would be a much better design choice.

Consider Site Requirements and Permitting Restrictions

A professional architect will also be able to guide you through the difficult aspects of designing for an outdoor space. This includes considering the grade of the property, accounting for proper spacial distance from the house, and abiding by permitting regulations. Without an architect involved in the process, you could incur costly mistakes at the onset of the project, like fixing things to align with building codes. You could also run into long term problems, such as improper drainage that could lead to foundation issues.

Why Landscape Architecture is Important

Create More Livable Space

Landscape architecture allows for the creation of more livable space outside the home. A well-versed architect will be able to create seamless transitions from inside the living room, to outside on the patio, to a dive in the pool. At DK Studio, we believe in getting to the heart of what our clients want and need from their space. Through detailed conversations, a client who only wanted a pool may realize they could also benefit from another gathering place for the family, like a firepit.

Unify the Property

In any project, it is important to have a lead to ensure proper flow and unity. The architect serves this role in the design of a home. By not bringing the architect into the pool and landscape design, you run the risk of creating a disjointed space outside the original vision of the project. Your architect will be able to bring the design of the home into outdoor spaces in unexpected ways, like a pergola to define an outdoor living space or unified tile to create a seamless transition from inside to outside.

Watersedge Residence living room to patio

Create a Story and Flow

A well-designed home has not only good flow but also tells a story. As you enter a home, you are guided by visual cues of where to proceed, what to look at, and what space serves what purpose. An outdoor space is no different. Your architect will be able to help select materials that tie into the interior of the home, define outdoor areas for different activities, and make the pool area feel like a cohesive design choice rather than an afterthought.

Choosing Pool Design Elements and Things to Consider

Choose a Pool Shape

While the selection of the pool shape may be dictated by lot size, there are also style considerations to make. A rectangular pool typically gives a more modern or formal feel to a backyard space, while a freeform pool shape offers a more relaxed or casual vibe.

Select Patio Materials

Patio materials will serve as the transition from your home interior to the pool. There are many options to consider when choosing patio materials, including:

- Simple and refined grass leading up to the pool

- Stone pavers that add visual interest

- Continuing the indoor flooring outdoors for a sleek flow

- Concrete pavers with turf in between to break up the look with an interesting pattern

- Wooden or composite decking for a relaxed feel

Design a Space for Relaxation

When designing outdoor spaces, relaxation is the most important consideration to keep in mind. The outdoors are a space to connect and unwind. Your architect will make considerations to provide shade, define spaces for easy use, and hide pesky pool equipment from view. Get ready for uninterrupted lounging poolside!

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Pool Design: An Architect’s Role in Creating Outdoor Flow and Functionality Through Landscape Architecture