This swimming pool offers the ultimate in family relaxation. It’s tucked into the rear garden of Totoro House, a leafy location that connects the swimming pool to the home. Ryan NG from Walless Architecture says the homeowners’ brief was to deliver a compact pool and outdoor amenity that preserved the family’s cherished play garden. “The pool had to be positioned in the corner close to the boundary to ensure most of the rear yard was retained for their play activities,” he says. “Rooted in biophilic integration, sustainability, and a ‘build-less’ ethos, the project reimagines outdoor living as a poetic dialogue between structure and landscape.”
The homeowners are parents of three teenagers and a playful pooch. They wanted an outdoor area conducive to family living. Ryan says the pool was an integral part of the owner’s vision for completing their dream home and surrounds. “Once Totoro House was finished and they were prepared for the next phase, they quickly circled back to this goal,” he explains.
The swimming pool is part of the outdoor space that contains an outdoor wash basin and toilet, paving steps and platforms, and a bar table. The pool barrier, constructed from custom steel rods, is a soft green hue. It artfully echoes biophilic design, effortlessly blending into the leafy landscape beyond.
Poolside is the perfect location to sip a long cool drink and watch the world go by. It’s a quiet and relaxing space, the silence broken only by the sounds of the kids’ laughter as they splash about in the pool. Level changes, including a step-down solution for the pool fence from the existing elevated sun deck, were cleverly overcome.
Ryan says the design transcended these constraints through small interventions and circular language that weaves together the old and the new. “Half-circle steps and a bar table seamlessly bind the pool to Totoro House, while an arch feature resolves problematic stepping transitions, anchors the pool’s entry, and doubles as a future lamp holder,” he explains.
The outdoor amenity is made up of a semi-circle mirror, free-standing cylinder basin, wall light and an arched door. The clients were on a tight budget, so this led to the “build less” design solution for the outdoor amenity. “This approach eliminated unnecessary walls, waterproofing and additional services, streamlining construction and reducing expenses,” explains Ryan.
Ryan says inspiration for the design was Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbour Totoro. “The design celebrates interconnectedness through circular motifs that echo the existing Totoro House,” he explains.
Organic sweeping curves offer a very real sense of connectedness to nature. Stepping down from the sundeck there are exposed aggregate concrete steps that add texture, playful bluestone crazy paving, and pool steps. The project artfully integrates built and natural environments — one blends effortlessly with the other. The green Bali-inspired tiles add a relaxed tropical vibe.
The northern orientation captures sunlight. Materials for the project were organic and locally sourced, the underlying design philosophy serving to reduce waste and embody energy. Plantings include low water, hardy native species, a selection of climbers to reduce irrigation needs and add cool amenity to the space.
When asked about his favourite part of the project, Ryan is understandably torn. There is much to love about this outdoor playground that is a celebration of family and nature. “I think the circular elements including pool, steps, lilypad platform, arched features, and the outdoor amenity reflect the house’s geometry while evoking joyful familial bonds,” he reflects.
The wall-less outdoor amenity is another aspect that he is proud of. “By day it becomes a sculptural element admired from the house; by night it serves as a lantern feature for the pool, mirroring the captivating garden wall of Totoro House that comes alive with fairy lights at night.”