We were approached by garden designer Rachel Platt, who asked us to bring her client’s dream of a circular natural pool to life. We were excited by the opportunity and eager to take on the challenge!

Our design featured a contemporary circular swim zone, surrounded by a concentric ring of regeneration zone on one side, bordered with a geometrically aligned deck. The pool utilises a hybrid filtration system, giving it the tranquil beauty of water plants while the biological filter takes care of most of the hard work. A marginal shelf of native perennials seamlessly transitions into a gravel garden surrounding the pool, beautifully planted byRachel to enhance the overall aesthetic.

The deck, made from Brimstone ash, cleverly hides access hatches to the filtration system beneath. For the pool’s edge, we selected sawn sandstone coping with a soft bullnose finish, creating a contemporary yet elegant border where the swim zone meets the gravel garden. These clean lines give the circular pool a modern, polished look.

Positioned like a perfect lens of water within the garden, the pool complements the contemporary design of the property. It reflects the surrounding mature birch trees and the dramatic hues of the sunset, and is visible from every viewpoint in the house, making it the focal point of the landscape.

Subtle return jets create gentle ripples that move across the water towards the deck, enhancing the peaceful atmosphere without the need for additional water features. The swim zone measures about 6.5 meters in diameter, offering a perfect balance of size and elegance.

Construction Process

Of course, every project comes with its challenges! The weather was particularly tough, with persistent rain during excavation and construction. Pouring the concrete walls with formwork in these conditions was no easy task.

The circular design meant every element—from the pool lining to the stone coping—had to be bespoke and precisely engineered. In fact, the lining alone required around 180 custom patches to achieve the perfect finish, while the coping stones had to be meticulously designed and cut to exact specifications. It was a technical challenge, but the results speak for themselves!