Home & Design
natural-fresh-water-pool
natural-fresh-water-pool

Untreated fresh water is pumped between the pool's swimming and filtration zones, which are separated by an underwater wall.

stone-fire-pit-and-seating
stone-fire-pit-and-seating

At twilight, a fire pit beckons under a starry sky.

backyard-bocce-court
backyard-bocce-court

The owners and their guests enjoy games of bocce amid the greenery.

Private Spot— Bathers cool off in the natural pool
Private Spot— Bathers cool off in the natural pool

The property features a natural pool, a hot tub, a library, and an apothecary.

Private Spot

A natural pool and its lush surroundings celebrate the great outdoors

Private Spot - A couple thinking outside the box approached Miles Barnard about designing a pool and gardens in a six-acre meadow on their verdant, 34-acre property near Chestertown, Maryland.

The landscape architect pitched the idea of a natural pool. Unlike conventional pools that rely on chlorine to sterilize the water, natural pools harness the relationship between beneficial bacteria and underwater plants to filter out nutrients and impurities.

Once his clients decided to take the plunge, Barnard set out to design their eco-friendly habitat. He conceived a free-form pool with two zones separated by an underwater wall; a shallow regeneration zone is situated on one side with a deeper swimming area on the other.

The plan also included a library and an apothecary/clinic used by one of the owners, a registered herbalist and nutritionist who grows more than 50 species of native medicinal plants on-site. Clad in reclaimed barn siding, the outbuildings lend a rustic touch—as does the cedar hot tub near the pool’s edge.

Barnard also created a lush landscape teeming with native vegetation and stone outcroppings. He partnered with contractor Ben Herr, who built the pool and hardscape and installed every plant, stone and boulder to mimic Mother Nature. “On a project like this,” notes Barnard, “I draw as much of it as I can, then have to trust someone like Ben to put these natural materials together in a way that’s going to look right.”

The owners are delighted with their pond-like pool and its pristine environment. Herr sums up its appeal best with a question: “Who wouldn’t want to jump into their own fresh mountain lake?”

Private Spot - Landscape Architecture: D. Miles Barnard, ASLA, RLA, South Fork Studio Landscape Architecture, Inc., Chestertown, Maryland. Landscape Contractor: Ben Herr, Anthony’s Flowers and Landscaping, Chestertown, Maryland.

 

You may also like:

A Formal Approach
A grand European sensibility distinguishes a sprawling Potomac property
Landscaping + Outdoor Living: Case Study
Natural Oasis: In the hands of Surrounds, Inc., a mundane backyard becomes an elaborate poolside retreat
Kitchen Karma
Five amazing projects marry form and function in the hub of the home
HOME&DESIGN, published bi-monthly by Homestyles Media Inc., is the premier magazine of architecture and fine interiors for the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia region.

The company also publishes an annual H&D Sourcebook of ideas and resources for homeowners and professionals alike. H&D Chesapeake Views is published bi-annually and showcases fine home design and luxury living in and around the Chesapeake Bay.

The H&D Portfolio of 100 Top Designers spotlights the superior work of selected architects, interior designers and landscape architects in major regions of the US.

Stay Connected with HOME & DESIGN Newsletter

Copyright © 2024 Home & Design. All rights reserved. | Back to top
magnifier