Custom Family Pool Designed for a Narrow Brisbane Block
Smart Planning Before the House Was Built
Built alongside a new home by CMA Homes, this Wynnum project demonstrates what can be achieved when the swimming pool is considered early in the building process.
With a block only 10 metres wide, the challenge was to create a generous family swimming pool with expansive seating areas and water features while still maintaining a comfortable, well-balanced backyard.
Cityscapes completed the concrete pool shell while the site was still vacant, before construction of the new home began.
This early planning allowed the pool to be carefully positioned within the narrow site and helped make the most of the available outdoor space.
Making the Most of a Narrow Block
The homeowners wanted more than simply fitting a pool into the backyard.
They wanted a 7.0m × 4.0m family pool, generous areas for sitting and relaxing, and a strong visual feature that would give the backyard character.
At the same time, higher ground on the adjoining properties to the left and rear of the site needed to be retained.
Rather than treating this purely as a structural problem, the retaining requirements became part of the finished design.
A raised planted garden was created across the rear of the pool, incorporating a Cordillera dry-packed stone feature wall.
Two 1200mm Silkflow water blades were integrated into the stonework, creating dual waterfalls that provide movement, sound and a striking focal point from both the pool and the home.
Designed as One Outdoor Space
Material selection helps connect the different elements of the backyard.
Travertine Linen natural-edge coping surrounds the pool, with matching Travertine body tiles continuing through the pool surrounds.
The natural tones of the stone complement the feature wall and landscaping, while Luna 48mm × 48mm waterline tiles and an Arctic interior finish — white with black pebble — complete the pool itself.
Along the side boundary, a rendered retaining wall supports the higher neighbouring ground and has been finished in a dark colour to visually recede behind the pool.
The rendered and painted planter-box wall continues from the stone-clad feature wall, helping the landscaping and structural elements read as one cohesive design.
Frameless glass fencing with black composite spigots maintains open sightlines across the backyard without visually crowding the narrow site.
PROJECT DETAILS
Location
- Wynnum, Brisbane
Project Type
- Custom Concrete Family Pool
Pool Size
- 7.0m × 4.0m
Water Depth
- 1.1m – 1.8m
Interior Finish
- Arctic — white with black pebble
Waterline Tiles
- Luna 48mm × 48mm
Coping & Surrounds
- Travertine Linen natural-edge coping with matching body tiles
Feature Wall
- Cordillera dry-packed stone cladding
Water Features
- 2 × 1200mm Silkflow water blades
Pool Fencing
- Frameless glass with black composite spigots
Lighting
- 2 × Spa Electrics multi-coloured pool lights
Filtration
- Zodiac ZT500 21″ glass media filter with FloPro 1.0hp pump
Water System
- MagnaPool mineral water system
Pool Cleaner
- Maytronics Dolphin DB1
Heating
- Rheem 17kW heat pump with DP2 controller
Home Builder
- CMA Homes
The Result
What began as a narrow vacant block with challenging neighbouring levels became a generous and highly functional family backyard.
By planning the pool before the home was constructed, Cityscapes was able to use the available space intelligently while incorporating the retaining structures, landscaping and water features into the overall design.
The result is a 7 × 4 metre family pool that feels comfortably proportioned within a block only 10 metres wide — with generous surrounds, integrated landscaping and dual waterfalls creating the focal point.
It is a great example of why a smaller or narrower Brisbane block doesn’t necessarily mean compromising on the swimming pool you want.
