Wychwood Limestone Tumbled & Etched | Gödel Architects
The Role of Bespoke Stone in Creating Tranquil Spaces
There’s no doubt that natural stone creates sumptuous poolside surroundings and, by its very nature, lends a spa-like air, while bespoke stone work elevates the ambience further.
Stone such as limestone, or occasionally marble, is used to evoke a luxury feel and provide longevity. ‘We find limestone is the most commonly used stone around a pool,’ explains Aidan Ollerhead, Senior Project Consultant. ‘Very high-end pool areas might be marble - if you want something ultra luxurious, then marble is what people aim for.’ For deck areas, limestones such as our Buscot and Wychwood are popular, as well as our greyer limestone, Kimmeridge. Marbles most frequently used include white marbles such as Carrara and Calacatta. ‘Not only does stone’s inherent beauty and soft colourways help create a tranquil space, but also its tactility,’ says Aidan. The texture of what you have on the floor and around a pool is quite important. If you're walking on something like porcelain, it can feel quite clinical, flat underfoot and a little alien. But if you've got a natural material where there's natural indentations and depressions, it does feel softer.’
Our expert knowledge enables us to guide clients in selecting the right material. ‘Often the best choice is limestone because of its durability, and from a practical point of view. The choice usually depends on the look required. Limestone ties in well with period properties, for instance,’ says Aidan.
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The surroundings have a significant impact on the aesthetic of the swimming pool, and stone can be utilised in various ways, including on the deck. For instance, it can be crafted into coping stones, which are used to cap the perimeter of a swimming pool. They provide a finished edge, help prevent water from seeping behind the pool shell, and offer a safe, non-slip surface for swimmers. Bespoke finishes include flat top coping, which has a clean, squared edge and suits modern or minimalist designs, and bullnose coping, which has a rounded front edge, offering a softer, safer surface more suited to traditional or family-friendly environments. Other types of popular profile edges include double pencil round (double eased), where both top and bottom edges are gently rounded and chamfered, ogee, and rebated profiles. In high-end or custom pool settings, coping stones can be made bespoke to match the surrounding materials and meet exact size specifications.
Other bespoke stone work that helps create a tranquil space includes the design of the swimming pool edge. A level deck (overflow) pool offers a sleek, seamless visual where the water is level with the surrounding surface and delivers a high-end luxury aesthetic. Level deck pools require perimeter grilles or drainage channels to collect overflowing water and direct it to a balance tank, and these may also be made from stone.
A gin edge pool is another design requiring bespoke stone work. Here, the water sits flush or nearly flush with the edge, often with no visible coping, mimicking the clean surface of a glass of gin. ‘It’s similar to a level deck but may focus more on aesthetics than overflow function; they often get used for seating, so you can sit in your pool and sip your gin and tonic,’ says Aidan.
A waterfall edge, with water cascading over an edge such as an overflow edge on a pool or spa or a decorative feature wall, is a sumptuous design that appeals to multiple senses.
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Internal steps in a pool are often clad in the same stone used in the pool or surrounding areas. Some common shapes exist, such as Roman ends and straight steps, but many pools feature custom-designed internal steps, sometimes integrating benches or tanning ledges (gin edge). Steps around the pool can be made of the same or matching stone, contributing to a cohesive look.
In addition, stone can be used to craft seating such as benches, either freestanding or integrated into walls or pool surrounds. Other seating, such as loungers, can be made from stone and ergonomically designed for the ultimate in relaxation.
Stone cladding on a feature wall is a popular architectural alternative to artwork in indoor pool rooms, offering both a natural and sculptural quality.
Appealing to the senses, the gentle flow of running water from fountains and water features enhances the relaxing feel of pool surroundings, and these vary from a simple coping style to a more intricate CNC-cut block.
Stone’s versatility means it can be used in a variety of ways, including to create jacuzzi surrounds and plunge pools. And, of course, it can be used in the shower area, with niches and integrated seating, as well as the floor and walls, designed to complement the rest of the pool area, ensuring a harmonious and relaxing aesthetic.
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