Home & Design

Herringbone tile details the edge of the 73-foot-long pool, which spills 15 feet down to the basement level. Photo by Kevin Kurdziolek

A cedar pergola houses outdoor seating and a custom water feature made of polished black beach pebbles. Photo by Kevin Kurdziolek

A heat-resistant marble patio abuts the pool. The black-stone pool coping and white marble reflect the black-and-white color scheme of the house. Photo by Jim Smith

Taking the Plunge

An ingenious and beautiful pool design conquers the challenges of a severely sloped yard
GRAND AWARD LANDSCAPE DESIGN

Pristine Acres

The owners of a new Langley, Virginia, home designed by WCRA faced the daunting task of creating a lap pool and outdoor entertaining areas on a steeply sloped lot. “Having an outdoor space at the basement walk-out level was essential to the homeowners, but with over a 14-foot elevation change this was a monumental task,” says landscape architect Kevin Kurdziolek.

He and his team solved the dilemma by designing highly engineered retaining walls to support an infinity-edge pool that stands 15 feet above grade. The pool materials echo the home’s black-and-white exterior color scheme. A wooden lounge deck awaits beside the pool while on the opposite side of the property, a custom pergola provides a tranquil spot for relaxation.

"I like the beautiful pool that doubles as a retaining wall."
—Christian Zapatka, jurist

 

Landscape Architecture: Steve Waldron, president; Kevin Kurdziolek, PLA, lead designer, and team, Pristine Acres. Architecture: WCRA. Builder: Brush Arbor Homes.

 

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