Pool Design: Making the Most of the Space You Have

A pool is one of the more transformative additions a residence can make, and the amount of flexibility in how one is designed means a compact garden is rarely a disqualifying factor. A small, deep plunge pool — built almost like a barrel with its top cut away and a base added underneath — can deliver real presence in a modest footprint, especially paired with a tight, sculptural set of entry steps that keep the overall form compact.

Where space and budget allow for something larger, an irregular, sweeping pool shape with a small bridge crossing from one side to the other turns the pool itself into a landscape feature rather than just a swimming surface. A pale stone surround around the pool and bridge throws a sea-green water color into sharp relief — a simple contrast that does most of the visual work without needing anything elaborate around it.