This pool won Bronze at the SPASA awards 2014 under $40,000 category.

What started as a pool pipedream became a reality for Lyn and Andrew, with the rarely used rear corner of their Fremantle home now a focal point. Despite living close to the beach, Mrs Harding said the water-loving family had always liked the idea of one day including a pool in their Mediterranean-style design. “However, given the natural landscape of our block — terraced limestone — it restricted access for installation, so we thought this might be a pipedream,” she said. “The existing lawn was high maintenance and did not get used. I wanted to have a water feature in the garden that could be enjoyed aesthetically and functionally; and the house and space, though challenging, lent themselves to having a pool,”

Mr Harding said. As the general manager of Landscape Australia which completes predominantly commercial landscape projects, Mr Harding had some ideas for the project but wasn’t sure it could be achieved. The couple called on Brad Hilbert of Barrier Reef Pools to see if it was possible. “Brad was very confident and relaxed it could be done,” Mr Harding said, adding that the company’s construction style of adding concrete footings around the fibreglass pool was a big selling point.

“It also gave me confidence I would not get any sinkage to my pool edging,” he said. The brief was simple. “It had to tie in seamlessly with the existing landscape finishes, have an architectural look and feel, and fit with the architecture of the house,”

Mr Harding said. “It was important for us that the pool could soon look as if it had been in situ for a long time,” Mrs Harding added. “It had to complement our plantings.” Not disturbing the existing plantings was key. The mature climbing roses and hibiscus plants along the rear boundary wall were heavily pruned to survive the adjacent excavation. “The project was also done in winter to minimise dust and the impact on the dormant existing deciduous trees,” Mr Harding said.

Mr Hilbert said he was initially concerned the chemical injection, which was needed to suspend the soil along the boundary line, may have disturbed the plantings, though he said the hardy flora was not affected. “The hard limestone soil was also a blessing in disguise as it held together really well during the dig and protected the roots of the plants,” he said.

The 6.2×2.8m Billabong pool design was carried by crane over the neighbour’s house and into place, internally finished in a Sandstone Shimmer for a light, contemporary appeal. With the pool taking up one end of the elevated terrace, jarrah decking, stone tiles and feature pots and trees add interest to the other. Succulents and Mediterranean-style plants have also been incorporated. The cost of the bronze award winning pool was $28,000.