In Melbourne, Laguna Pools demonstrates how a pool can be integrated into both the home and landscape. Curves, natural planting and considered topography guide movement, support wellness and foster connection, channelling the rhythms of everyday life.
In recent years, homeowners have been exploring ways to weave wellness into their daily routines, moving beyond the belief that it belongs only in retreats or on holiday. In response, pools are being reimagined as everyday luxuries, inviting opportunities to support health, movement and a sense of well-being at home.
On a quiet, tree-lined street in Clifton Hill, an architecturally considered pool sits effortlessly within its garden. Its curves echo the surrounding planting and paved areas, guiding movement naturally through the space. Beneath its sculptural simplicity lies meticulous engineering: above-ground construction manages multiple water levels while also functioning as a retaining wall, all discreetly concealed so the pool reads as a seamless, natural feature.
“The vision was never just to build a pool,” landscape and pool designer of Melbourne-based construction company Laguna Pools, Matt Scrase, says. “It was to create an outdoor space that felt like it had always belonged there. The pool isn’t in the landscape—it is the landscape.”
Distinct zones within the pool accommodate fitness, play and relaxation, while the adjoining spa anchors the entertaining area. Movement between the cold plunge, sauna and main pool guides circulation, supporting the rhythm of the day without interrupting the visual cohesion of the garden. Elsewhere, open sightlines, curved steps and shallow ledges encourage social connection, while maintaining a restrained aesthetic.
Produced in partnership with Laguna Pools.
“For us, it’s always about how the space should make you feel,” Scrase adds. “In this case, the clients wanted calm in the morning, connection during the day and warmth in the evenings.”
Bisazza Delhi tiles catch the light subtly shifting throughout the day, while planting does more than soften curves—it creates privacy and offers shade, while supporting the immersive experience of the pool. Balancing family needs and visual appeal, the pool exemplifies utility and beauty. “When the landscape reflects your routine, the space becomes genuinely useful, not just beautiful,” Scrase explains. The result is a pool that functions as both a technical achievement and a sculptural element, where water, landscape and architecture coexist in harmony.
Clifton Hill demonstrates how purposeful design can make a pool feel like part of the architecture: technically precise yet visually effortless, it offers an environment to move through, enjoy and unwind in, supporting everyday wellness at home.
This piece originally appeared in est magazine issue #59: ‘Living with Landscape‘.
An integrated cold plunge and spa support everyday wellness, while gentle curves and considered steps lead the family through spaces for play, rest and pause.
