Jonathan Beckerman

Piassick Photography, Jazon Oleniczak

Cody Pools - Bland

This project, completed for a client in Sugar Land, Texas, was authorized by the homeowner and the architect and was done in conjunction with the efforts of the builder. Its minimalist approach to vegetation, its custom swimming pool design, and its unique hardscapes offer the reader an excellent example of contemporary landscape design. There were a lot of challenges to designing a pool that worked with the architecture of the home and fit the available space in the back yard. To understand the unique nature of the pool, we have to take a closer look at the home. The house features a number of curved facades and unique angles. Instead of a traditional back porch, it features a custom stonework patio and an outdoor kitchen. The pool is elevated above the shrub palette to make it level with the floor of the house. This compensates for the drop in elevation on the way to a lake that is located just beyond the property line. The back patio is made from sandstone laid over a concrete base. It double functions as a deck and as a floor of the summer kitchen that leads straight to the water’s edge. Such a fusion of human architecture with natural elements is common in contemporary landscape design. It is further reinforced by custom water jets built along the patio’s edge using a special construction technique. Our design team predetermined the location of each stone. Intersections of the stones were marked, and the pipes which eventually fed the jets were installed before setting the stone in place. This creates the very powerful illusion that the water is springing from the stone itself. It is perhaps the most effective method of extending the geometry of manmade forms into the natural world beyond as if to establish the supremacy of mind over the raw elements of nature. To continue the home’s architecture, we had to build the pool in a rectilinear shape with a decidedly curved edge that reflected the unique facades of the home. This enables the pool to better connect with the landscape as it gently arcs through the vegetation. This works to establish the preeminence of home architecture over the entire yard. This is a common and very powerful theme found in most contemporary landscape designs. Guests standing on the back patio get the sense that the design of the home itself has been extended infinitely into the yard—making it appear as though it is an actual part of the home. The top of the coping slopes down to the water at a 45 degree angle, creating a marked aesthetic that mirrors the grade of the yard that slopes toward the lake in the distance. This is an example of curved facades and walkway surfaces. The upper story and windows overhang the front wall and the contemporary style front door. We accented the scene with a small birch tree and low growth boxwood shrubs, dwarf yaupon, agapanthus, and nandina. We also planted Bermuda grass, which looks very good cut very short and retains its color. Bermuda grass is often used in contemporary landscape design to line stone walkways and to contemplate small shrubs.

Camelot at Whitehorse

Our client requested Land & Water Design to design a unique backyard, utilizing every bit of open area. Within the requests were a 12'x22' swimming pool with swim jet system to accommodate the competitive swimmers in their family. The items on their "wish list" were enough hardscape areas to accommodate at least 20 guests, a beautiful low maintenance landscape, custom storage area, outdoor lighting, water jets, retaining wall, seat walls and finally a small area for outdoor grilling. Photo Credit: Jim Folliard

Backyard Oasis at its finest... Custom water feature, jump rock, deck jets, stamped cantilevered coping, vinyl liner steps and bench does not disappoint.

A gorgeous retreat in the heart of Houston. The softly trickling fountain and enclosed courtyard makes it easy to leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind.

Situated on the University Lakes in Baton Rouge, LA, these homeowners were initially looking for a fence to contain their two dogs. Several conceptual designs and revisions later, we arrived at the concept that was constructed. The homeowners have an 80+ year old Live Oak in the backyard that they wanted to be a feature of their new outdoor oasis. They also wanted a spa to be able to use year-round for themselves and family parties. With the focus being on creating a New Orleans-style courtyard and preserving the fantastic specimen Live Oak, a sideyard courtyard was born.

James Queen

We love the pool water feature from any angle.