Sophisticated Outdoor Living - Chuck Baumann

As a pool builder, when I’m creating a sophisticated outdoor living area, frequently I look to incorporate exciting transitions which immerse you into the entire backyard. The technique was accomplished adeptly by a very famous landscape architect in the California Bay Area, by the name of Thomas Church.

My firm, Creative Environments, was selected to update the swimming pool area on one particular backyard design which was done by Thomas back in the mid 1930’s. In his original concept, there was no swimming pool incorporated into his design. The pool, however, was added to the yard in the late 1970’s. Roughly five decades later, our company finds itself with the good fortune of remodeling the swimming pool accenting this timeless design.

When we initially took on this daunting historical remodeling project, my son Nicco and our landscape designer, Peter Koenig did a lot of research on Thomas Church. We started by visiting his most iconic yard landscape design project of the Donnell Ranch Pool and Landscape in Sonoma.

Thomas was known for his ability to design inviting backyard environments by creating different elevations. These micro-environments were ideal for various

purposes and enhanced the enjoyment of the landscape experience. Thomas achieved this by installing steps that gradually transitioned you to a new texture or environment area as you traveled through the yard.

Planning Micro Environments

This particular project that we remodeled is a classic example of transitioning from one texture to another. Our designer, Peter Koenig, worked together with our clients and us to maintain the original integrity of the “Master’s Design”. The real trick here was to maintain the theme of the backyard and at the same time use the construction methods of today’s high standards.

The test to see if we got this right was when I was invited to a social gathering by our clients. I took the opportunity to observe the 75 guests in attendance. Gradually, each found a corner of the outdoor living area to enjoy.

When conceptualizing the design we need to think past the swimming pool as our only dog in the fight and think about how the entire backyard space is used for entertainment. The projects which my son Nicco and I build, along with the help of Peter Koenig and the rest of our team of talented artisans, incorporate all of those exciting lifestyle features.

These completely immersive environments transition from the pavilion to the outdoor kitchen to the sports court seamlessly. When accompanied by beautiful landscape and lighting, well-conceived concrete paver pathways help navigate guests throughout the backyard to a well-appointed swimming pool. One that isn’t just filling in the negative space of the yard but by was oriented specifically to have guests transition to the right location and direction from the point of entry of the house.

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if you are planning a brand new yard or working with an older one. It all starts with a well-conceived design that permeates through all the other features that comprise the backyard entertainment areas. Owning a swimming pool in your backyard today is all about the “Lifestyle”. As my good friend, Vance

Gillette would tell all of us in the swimming pool industry; we are not in the swimming pool business but rather in the “Backyard Entertainment Business”.

My son Nicco, represents the next generation of pool builders who will carry this torch into the future. I asked him to relay some of his thoughts, and close this op-ed piece by discussing what being in the backyard entertainment industry means to him.

A swimming pool is not the entire yard, it’s a luxury component of our client’s private spaces. It, therefore, needs to coalesce with other microenvironments in harmony, rather than compete with them. An important role as a contractor on these projects is to step outside of the pool and envision the flow throughout the yard. We have to ask ourselves how well did we utilize the space given to us and is it balanced?

The backyard entertainment industry today is only limited by our client’s and designers’ imaginations. It’s incredibly gratifying to bring a project to life and materialize our client’s dreams.