Paul and Rebecca Jones moved into their family home 12 years ago, dreaming of restoring the house and rejuvenating the landscaping. Upon moving in, they discovered an existing outdoor swimming pool, which was ideal for the family, especially since Paul is a keen swimmer. They even increased the size of the outdoor pool to 25 meters long to enable Paul to swim laps. However, they quickly realised that the pool didn't get much use during the colder months. This led to the decision to turn their outdoor pool into an indoor pool, allowing them to enjoy the benefits of swimming all year round.
Discovering Origin
Initially, Paul and Rebecca hired an architect to design a pool house, but they soon realised that a company specialising in swimming pool building and design was the best way forward. Rebecca came across Origin online and called their office when she read the words "we do it all." Origin’s team of experts got to work designing a new indoor pool house tailored to the whole family—a versatile space they could use throughout the year. They created a bespoke ‘L’ shape design encompassing the existing outdoor swimming pool and included an additional living area and some separate outside space. This unique design maximised pool usage and fit perfectly within the constraints of the surrounding garden and proximity to the house.
“We wanted a larger pool house to create added space that could be used in a multitude of ways. We’re a very sociable family, and having the extra room means we can utilise it for everything from parties to yoga! The unique design also created a sun trap courtyard on the other side of the pool house, which we adore.”
Blending into the surroundings
While the Jones's home isn’t a listed building, it is a period structure with significant architectural character. This, coupled with the existing outdoor pool's proximity to the house, made it essential that any new structure harmonised with the home and surrounding grounds. The final design was chosen to allow the existing home and new indoor pool house to coexist harmoniously, integrating seamlessly with the garden landscape that Rebecca has spent years perfecting.
“We opted for a wall of windows and bi-fold doors to help bring the landscaping and garden into the indoor pool area and vice versa. We wanted to be surrounded by nature while enjoying the comfort of indoor swimming.”
“Origin was brilliant at obtaining planning permission. We were worried about it initially, but when Origin took over, they got it done right away—it was a huge relief.”
Addressing the challenges
There can be many underlying challenges when it comes to outdoor swimming pool renovation. As Origin began the build, it became clear that the original outdoor pool had not been installed correctly. A mess of pipes and cables left exposed underneath the pool chamber had led to a leak. When the pool was extended, the walls of the pool chamber had been padded with foam, which later came loose and floated with the mass of cables. Origin resolved these issues and corrected the drainage problems caused by the previous builders.
Origin’s design also required connecting the new pool house to an existing outbuilding, which was renovated to house a bathroom and changing room. A key challenge was ensuring these two buildings fused seamlessly to create the illusion of being one. This was accomplished by using similar materials and lowering the roof elevation to allow them to join smoothly.
Creating a Year-Round Paradise
Before and after the construction of their dream pool house, Rebecca wanted to utilise the surrounding garden to create a paradise right outside their backdoor. One of the main ideas was to construct an inner courtyard next to the pool house to serve as a relaxing escape for the whole family.
“We wanted the pool house and garden to speak for themselves. We put everything out here to create a sanctuary that can be enjoyed alongside the indoor pool, outdoor kitchen, and water features. The courtyard is also weatherproof, allowing us to enjoy it all year round, just like our pool!”
The landscaping was completed after the pool house was built so Rebecca could focus on the finishing touches nearest to the indoor pool. Now, when the family uses the swimming pool during the summer, they can open up the bi-fold doors and let the outside in.
Why choose Origin?
“Origin was amazing in managing a project that wasn’t a blank slate. Not only did they construct a pool house, but they also had to connect it to an existing building, and it all works seamlessly. You wouldn’t know the pool house is essentially an extension. We initially had an architect working on the project, but they were unsure how to connect the two buildings. When I saw Origin’s brochure, I knew I wanted a one-stop shop specialising in building swimming pools and knew what they were doing from the start.”
“With Origin, everything was easy. No matter the challenge, they made it work. We have a period house, so blending in any new addition would be tricky, but Origin accomplished it beautifully.”
“It’s rare to end up on good terms with a company by the end of a big project, but working with Origin was a joy; it was just easy.”
“Origin’s building process was the smoothest we’ve experienced in the last 12 years. We encountered many challenges throughout our home renovation, but with Origin, we had no worries. Now we have our dream pool house, a space we can swim in every day, rain or shine.”
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