How to orient the pool?

We usually meet clients who have in mind a design for their pool or even the coating they want for their project, but what about the situation of the pool? In most cases, customers are not very clear about how to orient the pool, since a series of factors come into play that vary depending on each specific case.

However, the orientation of the pool is one of the most important points that we normally analyze in the pool planning phase. And it is that, if we succeed with the way of orienting the pool, we can guarantee that you will enjoy it for longer, that the exteriors will look more harmonious and in connection with the house and that access to the pool will be comfortable for the lifestyle of their habitants.

That said, do you know what aspects you should take into account when orienting your pool?

Location of the pool with respect to the sun

The most important point to keep in mind is the location relative to the sun. In general, it is advisable to locate the pool in a space where it receives the sun’s rays for a longer time.

This means that, in general terms, the ideal is for the location of the pool to be facing South, since in this way the pool would receive sunlight throughout the day.

Why is it ideal for the pool to receive sun?

Contrary to what many people think, the objective of orienting the pool to the South is not to raise the temperature of the pool water, but rather to enjoy a bath in the sun.

In other words, imagine this situation: Your home is located in the North of Spain and in June it is sunny, but it is 18 degrees. The temperature of the water will not increase because the sun hits it, since the temperature of the water is in relation to the temperature of the environment. In this specific case, the temperature could only rise if it was, for example, 25 degrees outside.

Also, keep in mind that to raise the temperature of the water we already have heat pumps.

Orientation of the pool in relation to the house

Keep in mind that the primary objective is for the pool to always receive as many hours of sunlight as possible. Following this premise, it is vital to check that the house does not cast a shadow towards the place where we had planned to build the pool.

Sometimes this is not possible when a house is already built and has just enough m2 for the pool approach.

Distance between the pool and the house

This is a very important factor, to which at GodoPools we always dedicate a section within the planning phase of the project.

Clients who have many m2 on their land sometimes come up with an impractical idea: place the pool very far from the house. On the contrary, clients who have less m2 usually propose us to build the pool very close to the house, in order to make better use of the land.

Unfortunately, neither option is ideal. From experience we know that the ideal distance between the house and the pool should be around 4 or 5 meters. Why?

Analyzing the user experience, we know that the ideal is to leave a recreation area in front of the house before reaching the pool. This area can be used as a dining space, barbecue, terrace, solarium with sun loungers, games, etc. depending on the lifestyle of the family.

If, on the other hand, we plan the pool very close to the house, the exteriors will be dull and “very drowned”. In addition, if there were a free space behind the pool, it would be of little use, being so far away. On the other hand, the disadvantage of locating the pool very far from the house would be that it would not be very intimate and welcoming. In addition, being so far away, the fact of having to walk a long distance to the house would be impractical for users such as children or the elderly and, in short, its use would be reduced.

Other aspects to take into account when orienting the pool

Each project is unique and therefore we cannot generalize. However, we would like to add 2 points that should be considered when deciding the orientation of a pool:

The surrounding vegetation

Some pools, such as those with a tropical design, include an important item in vegetation. Ideally palm trees and small tropical plants.

We agree that vegetation brings a lot of beauty to the pool environment, making it a natural, comfortable and pleasant space.

However, you must take into account:

• It is not advisable for the vegetation to cast excessive shade on the pool since, no matter how much we orient it to the South, if we then cover it with vegetation, the result will not be the desired one.
• If the vegetation is very close to the pool, it will increase the probability that you will have to clean the pool more frequently. In this sense, it is convenient that you study the type of leaf of the vegetation that you would like to include, since not all the leaves are so dirty.
• Study in detail the type of trees that already exist on the land prior to construction. Keep in mind that some types of trees, such as eucalyptus, have very fine roots, which are capable of entering the concrete shell of the pool and over time can swell and expand, raising the pool or even breaking its structure.

Spacing around the pool

In some pool designs, such as tropical pools, the pool is usually surrounded by tropical plants at a reasonable distance, so that access to the pool is from the side, like a beach entrance.

Except for this case and the case of homes with very few m2 of available land, we generally recommend that you leave a space around the pool, to be able to access it from any part of its perimeter.

On the other hand, it sometimes happens that once the pool and its orientation have been planned, it is discovered that there was already a marked circulation in the garden. In these cases, the design of the pool must include a redesign of the exteriors, so that, before building the pool, we are sure that transit through the garden or the passage to other accesses will be comfortable. At GodoPools we make sure that the result is as expected through the 3D design prior to the construction of the pool.

Conclusion

As you may have imagined, it is not so easy to discover how to orient a pool, since, having to assess the particular characteristics of each project and the client’s tastes, it is not possible to generalize.

That is why we recommend that you seek the help of a pool design specialist when considering both the orientation and the construction of your pool. Keep in mind that it is the most important part of the project and the one that will ensure an optimal result.

Do you need help with the design of your pool? Contact us!