There are many people who would love to have their own pool.
It can be a place where friends and family can gather for fun and relaxation, or even a private little oasis where you can escape the world and simply float under the sun.
But for most of us, having our own perfect pool is a lot easier said than done. Pools, while they can offer you amazing comfort and relaxation, have their drawbacks, too. They take up a lot of space, they don’t always flow seamlessly with the landscaping, and it’s a lot of upkeep to maintain clean water.
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Luckily, if you’re willing to get a little creative, you can ditch the bright blue pool liner and heavy chlorine when it comes to incorporating some soothing water into your home.
One family in Switzerland decided that if they were going to have a pool, they were going to do things their own way.
Reddit user VonBubenberg shared the photos of their backyard’s transformation, from a plain grassy rectangle to a magical private oasis. VonBubenberg’s father decided to get creative and spearhead the project!
What’s more: their pool was created using all-natural and eco-friendly filtering and cleaning systems, so no harsh chemicals have to be used!
We’ll walk you through the process right from the beginning:
Back when the project was started in 2011, the backyard didn’t look like much.
The first step was plotting out where the pool would go, which was designed to look like a natural pond.
The black-outlined rectangle would be the deeper swimming area, while the curved white outline would be the edge of the wading pond.
If that seems confusing, don’t worry! It’ll all make sense in a moment.
The next step was to excavate. No going back from here!
As the backyard was dug out, channels and piping were placed for the water to run through the filter system, which would be housed in the garage.
When the excavation was complete, the dirt was covered in felt. As you can see, it takes up a large portion of this section of their yard.
Next, a pond liner was laid over the top of the felt to keep the water from soaking into the ground. VonBubenberg’s father ordered his materials from Germany.
Thanks to the internet, VonBubenberg’s father was able to order special materials for this project from Germany. There’s a large community online for DIY pool and pond enthusiasts!
Next, it was time to fill in the pool with stones and gravel, which was no small task.
“We were five men and worked around eight hours to build the walls of the pond,” VonBubenberg says. “We were tired to death by sunset.”
After the walls came the floor.
And then the pond was filled in. But not just the narrow rectangle! Instead, the water was allowed to spill over the top of the walls, creating a natural-looking shallow pond where people can simply wade and cool their toes if they don’t want to jump into a full pool.
Instead of using a traditional water filtration system with chemicals and pH balances, the water for the swimming pond is filtered through these bins in the garage.
The water passes through a series of increasingly finer materials, from gravel to foam, until it’s pumped into the pond.
In addition, the water is treated with UV light and an eco-friendly chemical compound to inhibit bacteria and algae growth. This helps to keep the “pond” clean naturally
They also added some decorative driftwood, as well as a small fountain. You can see the fountain on the far right in the image below.
The fountain is great because it keeps the water moving and prevents stagnation. Also, having running water sounds pleasant!
By spring 2012, some plants were beginning to call the pond home, and it was time for VonBubenberg to start phase two.
Because it’s great to have a beautiful pond, but what good is it if you don’t have a place to sit and enjoy it!
Phase two was to build a wraparound deck. This would let the family sit and gaze out over the water.
The finished deck runs along three sides of the pond, so there are plenty of places to sit!
It looks like an amazing place to host a BBQ, or to lounge out on a lazy summer day!
SHARE this beautiful idea with anyone looking to revamp their backyard, or just daydream about it!