Swimming Pools

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Determining Size and Shape

Swimming Pool to the Users Needs

Swimming Pool Size and Shape

Space around the swimming pool

The Shell that holds the Water

You can have a Spa, too

Swimming Pool Size

Well over half the pools built in Southeast Asia in recent years have ranged from 135 square meters to 270 square meters. Not so long ago, though, a continuing decline in the proportion of pools less than 135 square meters was reversed.

Another trend, at least in some parts of Southeast Asia, is to flat-bottomed pools with a water depth of 1.25 meter. Pools with a depth of about 1 meter at each end and 1.90 meter in the middle are popular also. Except for diving, a deep section is unnecessary.

Industry members observing these trends attribute them not to lower costs, but rather to smaller lots, condominium and townhouse living, and economy of operation and maintenance. A small swimming pool requires less water and chemicals, is cheaper to filter and heat, and takes less effort to maintain. And small can be beautiful, too.

Though the trend is to smaller swimming pools, large ones still dominate the market. Most experts agree-that a pool measuring at least 4.5 by 10 meters, with a deep end for diving, is needed for a full range of swimming activities.

Unless your pool site strictly limits the swimming pool size, one way to determine your needs is to allow 11 square meters for each swimmer and 30 square meters for each diver, if you predict that 10 people, including three divers, will use your pool on a busy afternoon, figure on a swimming pool with an area of 170 square meters or 5 by 11 meters.

Swimming Pool Shape

The simpler the shape of your swimming pool the better it will blend into a landscaped setting and enhance the appearance of your property.

Swimming pool shapes developed from squares, rectangles, circles, ovals, and other simple geometric figures will not compete with the landscaping. Nor do such shapes require great design ability.

A truly naturalistic swimming pool is also simple in shape because forms in nature are simple. But making it so much a part of nature that there is hardly any delineation between swimming pool and nature usual requires the skill of a top landscape architect. A grate into a residential lot and will probably be more expensive.

Unusual shapes are difficult to landscape well because they compete with the other elements in your landscape. But sometimes if your lot is small and wedge-shaped, your pool may also have to be wedge-shaped. Or to save a tree or other natural feature that’s valuable to you, you may decide to blend in one side of a pool. You may even want a pool shape that relates to a special interest.