Swimming Pool garden
Following the completion of Au Vent, we undertook the full transformation of a deteriorated swimming pool and its surrounding courtyard, reshaping it into a calm and sociable summer retreat.
The brief was to create a space for relaxation, entertaining and everyday use, while responding sensitively to the enclosed stone walls and the existing architectural character of the site.
DESIGN APPROACH
The original swimming pool had reached the end of its life and dominated the courtyard without offering comfort or visual coherence. Rather than simply replacing it like-for-like, the decision was made to reinterpret the pool as a semi-above ground structure, drawing inspiration from Roman baths and traditional stone basins.
By raising the pool slightly above the surrounding paving, it becomes both a focal point and a place of pause — something to sit beside, lean against, and inhabit slowly, rather than simply swim past.
CONSTRUCTION & LANDSCAPE WORKS
The existing pool was fully removed, allowing levels to be adjusted and the new structure carefully set within the courtyard. Surrounding paving was lifted, borders excavated, and circulation routes redefined to soften the hard geometry of the space.
Planting was introduced to contrast with the stonework and water: Olive trees provide structure and shade, cypress trees bring vertical rhythm, and a palette of Mediterranean shrubs and perennials adds texture, scent and seasonal movement.
The planting scheme was deliberately restrained, allowing the architecture, pool and stone walls to remain dominant while ensuring the courtyard feels alive and grounded.
OUTCOME
The finished space strikes a balance between restraint and atmosphere. The pool now sits naturally within the courtyard, inviting unhurried use, conversation and shared moments.
Whether used for cooling off during the heat of the day or enjoying an evening drink from the water’s edge, the courtyard has become a place of summer ritual — calm, social and timeless in character.
If you’re considering a swimming pool or courtyard transformation that blends architecture, landscape and atmosphere, we’d be happy to discuss your project.