Keeneland

Like the Romans, we believe pools should be designed for overall health, and that should include, commune with friends, escaping heat, solitude, reaching tranquil states of mind, and of course exercise and play. To achieve all of these items, a pool has to be flexible in its uses and provide rooms so to speak, not unlike a home. In this project, client preferences, site parameters, and design style led us to a site design which is an example of how to pull geometric, linear, curvilinear, and angular architectural style into a single setting while maintaining a feeling where each nook is its own room, its own space, and has its own function.
The site follows an HOA-owned pond easement all the way to the lower corners of the pool. Due to site restrictions of impervious surfaces we jogged the decking around and introduced beds in numerous locations to mitigate the otherwise restrictive nature of the site.
One of the essential elements in this project was the site drainage. With the pool reaching around so many corners of the home, varied distances between the home and the pool, and the desire to maintain a level surface for the client without the sight of deck drains, we decided to utilize a sub-surface drain system. Having an intimate knowledge of roof-top paving systems, we custom fabricated and set limestone pavers from large slabs on pedestals with an eighth inch joint between pavers. All deck drainage is therefore sub-surface and all surfaces are perfectly level.
Semi-locally sourced Indiana Limestone, from the same quarry as the historic Biltmore Estate, was used for all decking and coping. Locally sourced brick, which matches that used in the home, was used for the water-wall columns and spa. A polished pebble comprises the interior finish, leaving a very smooth-to-the-touch surface for both an intriguing and modern appearance as well as a luxurious surface to walk and sit on. Italian glass tile was employed for both the water wall and spa spillover, as well as for all waterline tile.
Micro LED lights were used to subtly light the pool and walls without drawing attention to the fixtures in the daytime. A wet seating table for dining, cocktails or the like is introduced in a corner under the shade of umbrella as well as the shallow water lounging area. Custom-contoured spa benches were shaped to fit the client, with very discreet venturi jets placed to accommodate the massage locations desired by the client. The spa filtration is shared with the pool and an equalizer line is used to carry the water back to the pool.
The acoustical nature of the project allows for different experiences depending on the location of the listener. The porch has a more audible sound, both due to the taller wall and the absorptive qualities of a semi-enclosed room directly across from the water wall.
The bubbler on the shelf adds a deeper and more active sound to the entire space, while the spa spillover provides a very subtle, hardly audible trickle by design, the result of which is the look and feel of a gentle rain. When more sound is desired in this space, the spa jets can be turned on creating a soothing sound as well as increasing the spillway to a bubbling flow.