Inspiration

Five swimming pool ideas for small backyards

Article by Your Home and Garden

As our backyards shrink, the small pool trend grows – here are five inspiring ideas if you’re contemplating putting one in

Photography by Bridgid Arnott

Have you always thought you don’t have enough space for a pool? Think again – here are some inspiring ideas for smaller swimming pools that are both inviting and small-garden-appropriate.

Five inspiring small pool ideas:

1 Lap time

Inspired by the work of Japanese architect Tadao Ando, this house is all about clean, minimalist lines – as is its boldly utilitarian, walled outdoor lap-pool area. Ideally suited to daily exercise, this pared-back outdoor space also has a generous retractable awning, which when deployed helps transform it into part of an indoor-outdoor living area that is connected to the main lounge area inside the house via glass folding doors.

2 Take the plunge

This raised plunge pool is only part of paved courtyard living. It’s useful to think of a plunge pool as a water feature – in other words, as an element within a landscape design – as well as a practical resource. This area is a good example of such an approach, as the pool, a leafy canopy of trees and inviting outdoor furniture combine to create a most appealing space.

3 Level up

Tucked into a tiny linear space alongside an equally compact house, this lap pool has been designed to make the very most of a small footprint. The stepped level changes, a strategically placed sailcloth shade over a simple built-in bench and potted creepers adding greenery to the boundary wall alongside the pool all combine to make the entire area feel more spacious – as well as delightfully inviting.

4 On the side

Neatly tucked into a weathered wooden deck alongside a compact, newly built contemporary home, this fairly long but narrow pool is perfect for leisurely laps and nicely demonstrates just how to make the very most of a small space along the side of a house. Adding a special decorative touch is always a good idea: this pool is edged with handmade aquamarine stoneware slabs.

5 Simple pleasure

This home evokes the Japanese aesthetic principle of wabi-sabi, celebrating elements of the imperfect as an essential part of any well-made and inviting design. Following a renovation, this small interior courtyard-cum-backyard is now almost entirely devoted to the pool, which is so delightfully secluded it’s perfect for daytime skinny dipping.

Need to know: New Zealand Pool Council Requirements

Pool regulations are the same across the whole of New Zealand.
If the pool contains less than 35,000 litres of water, then it does not require building consent, but that covers the structure of the pool and not the fencing.
The pool fencing (or barrier) will always require building consent, regardless of the size of the pool.
Although the pool, due to its size, may not require a building consent it still needs to comply with all relevant aspects of the building code with regards to structure, drainage and durability.
The pool will also need to adhere to any local Unitary Plan or District Plan rules, which can differ between territorial areas.
The majority of pool fencing needs to be 1.2 meters high with no climbable object within a 1.2m radius of the top of the fence.
You can use a boundary fence as a barrier but there must be a clear drop on the poolside of 1.8m, with a 900mm no-climb zone at the top of the fence. The pool must also be sited at least one metre away from the fence.
All gates must open away from the pool and be self-closing and latching.
You can use windows and doors of the house as a barrier, but windows opening into the pool area must be restricted to a maximum of 100mm opening. Doors (including sliders) must be self-closing and latching or have an audible alarm fitted.
The area bounded by the pool fence is referred to as the ‘Immediate Pool Area (IPA)’, is limited to pool activities only such as sun loungers, table and chairs. Items such as trampolines, vegetable gardens and washing lines are not allowed. The IPA must also be limited in size (immediate), so having a whole backyard as an IPA is not allowed as the further you move away from the pool the less likely that you would be involved in active supervision of under five-year-olds.
Once a pool has been installed and completed the pool barrier will be inspected every three years by the local council.