The Pool House

The clients are a young, growing family from Newport, Victoria. They live in a fabulous California Bungalow home but needed more room for work and play, wanting to preserve the existing house floor plate and the size of their rear garden. They also wanted a family size pool and needed a space where they could watch the children and relax in comfort.

The solution was to build a multipurpose annex on the rear boundary that became known as the Pool House, an addition that provides an open living space facing the house, that is warm in winter and cool in summer, has visual and physical access to the pool and still makes full use of the garden.

Given that the Pool House is separate to the original house we were able to explore a more contemporary look. The dark band of the overhanging eave grounds the pavilion, while the crisp white external and internal walls add light and reflection. The flat roof allowed the lovely views from the house of the sky and trees behind to be retained, and the building did not impede on the garden space.

The building accommodates a living area with built-in joinery/entertainment unit, a dining space, a games area, a light-filled contemporary bathroom and a garden shed/ workshop. The family chickens are housed to the side and often have full reign of the garden.

The bathroom is family size, including an open, walk-in shower, wall hung floating vanity, matt black tapware and accessories, with plenty of space to get changed after a swim.

Large skylights bring the sun deep into the space in winter, and the wide overhang roof keeps the interior cool in summer. The porcelain tile floor finish continues from the outside (rough-hewn finish/non-slip) to inside (honed finish) and appears seamless.

Large black framed sliding glass doors make the Pool House feel like it is completely open to the garden. A timber panelled wall on the side boundary has multiple uses - providing privacy, visual warmth, lighting, box garden/ seating with storage under, hidden pool equipment/pumps and a vertical garden.

The clients are enjoying their space with family and friends, all in time for the summer holiday season.

Building Designer - Dianne Bayley - Pasco Design Photographer - Rachel Lewis Builder - Glenn Homewood