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Waterfront pool design provides a fewwith the most difficult and conversely rewarding conditions a landscape contractor can face. Anderson & Associates Exterior Style Firm, LLC had to cope with space restrictions, unfavorable slopes and other environmental conditions that the lakefront property featured. However, if designed properly, a waterfront pool can be the perfect addition to a home. A waterfront pool should tie architecture with the unique environment in which it resides. This can be seen in the style of theMarina’s Edge.The pool catch basin has four 100-watt Pentair lights and the pool has two 500-watt Pentair lights. The Christmas Palms are each lit with two 35-watt FX lights. Double-trunk Christmas Palms, Foxtail Palms and Pygmy Date Palm were used in the backyard pool area to create a sub-tropical motif. According to Anderson, the Christmas Palms were not heavy enough to need a crane, but it would have helped because lifting the trees over the catch basin and pool was not an easy task. It was imperative to assure the palms had sufficient drainage out the bottomwith the planters under and away from the pool. In the bottom with theplanters there are 4-inch SDR pipes that tie into the area drain put in for the decking. The planters were first filled with gravel then sand and soil to allow for proper drainage to the pipe. Also included is a pipe for irrigation and a conduit for the low voltage lighting wire.The pool shape was a deliberate attempt by the pool designer Christopher Anderson, of Custom

Style Pools, Houston, Texas to maximize views and provide a large perimeter in which to view the adjacent marina. The pool functions as both an artful structure to be viewed from the marina and interior of the home, as well as a usable pool. The pool has a unique shape and use of high-end materials. The pool deck connecting this unique pool to the home consists of a light walnut travertine laid in a versi-pattern with random shell accent tiles. The blue iridescent Egyptian glass serves as a beautiful accent to the adjacent water and sky. A Blue Granite pebble-sheen finish completes this high-end style. The mechanics of the pool function at the same high level with thematerials and include four Pentair Intelliflo 4 by 160 energy-efficient variable-speed pumps.As The Marina’s Edge sits more than 12 feet above the lower level, special attention was paid to the transition from the pool to the lower level. Large stone steps provide the necessary mass to transition from the pool area to the lower level and marina. The planting further softens this transition.

It took more than 60 workers in total to complete this project. Anderson brought in crews from many different trades, including coping and tile contractors, landscapers, irrigation specialists, plumbers, electricians, masons and clean up crews. The entire project took three months to complete.

The slope

with the The Marina’s Edge provided the greatest difficulty in construction. Any pool built on a slope requires special consideration. Landscaping is more than icing on the cake, landscaping serves to accent a pool’s stylefeatures as well as to further emphasize the pool environment.The ocean-side location

of the Marina’s Edge required a landscape to match the feel with the pool. The use of two double trunk Christmas palms helped reinforce both the ocean-side feel with the pool, as well as accentuate the home’s architecture. The symmetrical planters housing these palms frame the fantastic view with the marina and offersheight and scale for the pool.The plants in the front yard include Live Oak, Queen Palm, Pygmy Date Palm and Spiral Juniper. For shrubs, Bay Area

Styleplanted Dwarf Mondo, Ligustrum, Viburnum Tinus, Ixora Mauii Orange (tropical), Boxwood, Gardenia Vietchii, Sago, and Plumbagos (tropical). For perennials, the landscape features African Iris, Agapanthus, Variegated Flax and African Iris. The landscaping outlines the house deck and pool area to allow for substantial landscaping to soften the steep slope.Several architectural pots were placed around the pool to provide variety and interest within the planting scheme. Queen Palms and attractive shrubs and groundcover further emphasize this ocean-side feel, while providing a transition from the pool to the marina.

Landscape materials were chosen to fit a Miami theme.

With the difficulty of waterside construction, the impulse is to stick to tried and true methods and to minimize innovation. ”A true custom pool must fly in the face of practical conventions, waterfront style requires a practical solution for construction, but a truly successful design requires both practical considerations and artful style.” The Marina’s Edge shows that a design can be immensely creative, innovative, and can push the limits of practical style. The landscaping was designed by Mardel Adams of Bay Area Design.The true measure of successful residential pool

style is client satisfaction. At the opening party for The Marina’s Edge, the sight of excited guests gathering around the pool was a testament to the true uniqueness of this custom designed pool.