The long, narrow shape of this small rectangular pool sets the tone for the garden. At 6 by 2.5 metres, it sits between the house and the pool house like a connector rather than a detached feature. The dark water reads almost deep blue against the anthracite grey shell, while the Padouk deck terrace wraps along two sides and keeps the edges visually tight. A lawn edge profile lets the grass meet the hard surfaces without a heavy border.

A compact pool placed between house and pool house

Seen from the garden, the pool pulls the route through the site into one line. The pool by pool house setting gives the composition a clear direction: from the main house, past the water, and onward to the rustic shelter with its brickwork and pitched roof. The pool is not treated as an isolated basin. Its proportions are drawn out, and the rectangular outline works with the terrace boards and the straight lawn edge beside it.

The padouk deck terrace frames the water on two sides, leaving the remaining edges open to the lawn. That contrast between timber, grass, and dark water keeps the scene legible. The boards run in clean lines beside the pool edge, so the small size feels deliberate rather than crowded. In the photographs, the terrace also acts as a pause point, with lounge chairs placed where the deck meets the open garden.

Dark water, wooden boards, and a clear edge

The shell is made from PPC, a material chosen here for its practical qualities as much as for its finish. In anthracite grey, the pool takes on a deep blue tone once filled, which gives the water extra depth in the images. The dark surface sharpens the line against the timber terrace and makes the reflections easier to read. At the same time, the material is described as frost-resistant, impact-resistant, osmotic-resistant, and low maintenance, which suits a compact pool that is meant to stay ready for use.

Close to the waterline, the detail is restrained. The deck boards meet the pool edge without visual noise, and the lawn edge profile keeps the grass flush with the surrounding surfaces. That small transition matters here. It prevents the garden from feeling cut apart by the installation and lets the rectangular pool sit inside the planting and paving with a measured outline.

Corner steps and a hidden solar roll cover

Entry is handled at one corner, where the steps give the pool a practical start point without interrupting the long side. The solar roll cover is tucked away in a niche, so the technical part disappears when the pool is open. That hidden storage keeps attention on the water surface and the timber frame around it. In a compact layout, that kind of recess makes a difference: the deck stays visually calm, and the pool keeps its full length.

The pool jetstream changes how the small rectangular pool is used. Even with limited dimensions, the current makes longer swimming possible, so the basin reads as both a garden element and a place for movement. The jetstream is not shown as a dramatic feature; it is simply part of the working structure behind the quiet surface. That understated approach suits the rest of the project, where each detail serves the geometry of the pool.

Water care kept out of sight

Water quality is maintained by a fully automatic system, and the project is monitored remotely through service support. In the text, that means the pool can remain ready for use without daily attention from the owner. A warning about something as simple as an empty container can be dealt with in advance, so the technical side stays in the background. The result is a pool area that looks settled, while the equipment behind it keeps working quietly.

That hidden layer of control fits the rest of the composition. The small rectangular pool presents a clear geometry, but the real interest is in how the technical parts are absorbed into the deck and shell. The solar roll cover niche, the corner steps, and the water care system all sit below the level of the eye. What remains visible is the line of the water, the timber edge, and the route from the house to the pool house.

Rustic pool house, open terrace, and evening light

The pool house brings a heavier material presence to the garden. Brick walls, a pitched roof with tiles, and a timber-lined canopy give the structure a grounded feel beside the lighter deck. In some views, warm lights hang under the covered section, which draws attention to the seating area and the protected space beyond the pool. The contrast between the open water and the enclosed shelter is clear, but neither part competes with the other.

Several images also show the pool house as a place to stay close to the water without stepping into it. Lounge chairs sit on the timber deck, facing the pool edge and the sheltered zone. The brick, wood, and tile surfaces do most of the work visually. They give the garden a layered reading: grass at ground level, timber at the water’s edge, and the covered room set slightly apart, all tied together by the same straight pool line.

Details that hold the garden together

One of the strongest moments in the project is the transition from lawn to timber to water. The lawn edge profile lets the grass meet the pool area cleanly, while the padouk deck terrace keeps the edges crisp. In close-up, the dark waterline sits against the wooden boards with very little interruption. That small strip of contact carries a lot of weight, because it is where the garden changes from soft to hard surface and then back to water.

The whole setting depends on those measured shifts. The small rectangular pool is compact, but the layout never feels cramped because the elements are arranged in a straight, readable sequence. The pool by pool house arrangement, the anthracite grey pool finish, the padouk deck terrace, and the hidden solar roll cover niche all work toward that clarity. It is a simple garden idea, carried through with enough precision to make every edge count.

Garden design: JK Tuinen

Photographer: Peter Baas