Let the architecture lead
A defined pool can relate directly to the house, terrace and garden. We consider sightlines, proportions and materials together, rather than choosing the water shape in isolation.
Our pools / Living pools
The character of a contemporary swimming pool, with biological filtration kept discreetly beyond the water. Open space to swim, considered materials and no routine chlorine dosing.
Guide price from£80,000 excluding VAT
Designed and built across Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex
The experienceUnheated outdoor swimming
The characterClean lines and open swimming
The approachBiological filtration, kept discreet
Natural water. Architectural freedom.
The pool you picture, with a different system behind it.
For those who love the clarity of a contemporary pool design but want to move away from routine chlorine dosing.
A living pool keeps the focus on open swimming water, considered proportions and the materials around it. Biological filtration works beyond the swimming area, rather than relying on a large visible planted regeneration zone.
That gives the landscape a different kind of freedom. Planting can frame the pool without filling it, and the relationship between water, terrace and house can remain simple and precise.
Discuss a living pool design
Keep the system discreet
Filtration and circulation are planned around the swimming volume and intended use. Equipment needs a suitable position and access, even when it is kept out of sight.
Choose planting on your terms
A large planted zone does not have to define the pool. The surrounding garden can be softly planted or more architectural, depending on the design and specified filtration system.
A different kind of natural
For a garden with a more architectural outlook.
A living pool is worth considering when your ideal is unmistakably a swimming pool. The natural approach is in the water system, not a requirement to turn the garden into a pond landscape.
Compare the pool typesThe visual priority
Uninterrupted swimming water, a considered edge and a clear relationship with nearby buildings or terraces.
The practical footprint
Removing a large visible planted zone does not remove the need for filtration space, access or construction room. We assess all of these before recommending a layout.
The softer alternatives
A natural pool combines a defined swimming area with planted regeneration. A swimming pond brings a more naturalistic character to the whole setting.
Behind the clean lines
Discreet filtration still deserves proper care.
A living pool changes the way the water is managed. It does not remove the need to maintain the pool or understand its equipment.
Keep surfaces in good order
Regular debris removal and appropriate cleaning look after the swimming area. We explain what to use and how to avoid disrupting the biological system.
Follow the system routine
Equipment checks, filter care and water monitoring follow the specification for your installation. Clear water should not be treated as a substitute for those checks.
Swim with the seasons
We do not offer pool heating. A living pool has natural outdoor water temperatures, despite its contemporary appearance, and the care routine should account for seasonal use.
Your investment
Considered design, with the detail costed.
From £80,000 ex VAT
An indicative starting price, not a fixed package. Your proposal defines the design, specification and agreed scope.
The swimming dimensions, construction, filtration specification and chosen finishes all influence the cost. Equipment access and the landscape surrounding the pool need to be planned alongside the water itself.
A consultation establishes your priorities and the practicalities of the site. We can then develop a design around the right balance of swimming space, materials and budget.
See what influences the budget Book a design consultationDesigning beyond the surface
The visible and the invisible, planned together.
From our base in Bury St Edmunds, we work with gardens across Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex.
Set the direction
We explore the swimming experience, architectural character, budget and relationship with the rest of your home.
Resolve the whole layout
The swimming area, edges, terrace, circulation and accessible equipment position are brought into one design.
Build to the specification
Construction and the selected filtration system are coordinated, followed by commissioning and the agreed finishing work.
Know your pool
Handover covers the equipment, cleaning and monitoring routine, with advice on ongoing care and servicing.
A clearer understanding
Living pool questions, answered.
What sits behind the contemporary appearance, and what a living pool means for your garden and daily routine.
Browse all pool questionsWhat is the difference between a living pool and a natural pool?
In our range, a natural pool combines a defined swimming area with visible planted regeneration. A living pool places more emphasis on open water and discreet biological filtration, so a large planted zone does not have to shape its appearance. The exact system is specified for the individual project.
Does a living pool need plants in the swimming water?
Not necessarily. An appropriately designed living pool can use biological filtration without a planted regeneration zone in the swimming area. Garden planting can still be incorporated around it. We agree the filtration approach before deciding what planting is required.
Where does the filtration equipment go?
That is resolved during design. The equipment needs a suitable position, connections and access for inspection and servicing. We aim to integrate it discreetly, but do not hide the practical requirements or assume it will fit into an arbitrary corner of the garden.
Can a living pool work in a smaller garden?
It may offer a useful option where a large visible planted zone would not suit the layout. However, the swimming area, filtration, safe access, construction access and retained garden all need space. A site assessment is the right way to establish whether it works.
Is a living pool maintenance free?
No. Swimming surfaces need appropriate cleaning, debris needs removing and the filtration equipment needs care. You will also have a water monitoring routine suited to the system. We explain those responsibilities at handover and can discuss professional servicing.
Can it look like a conventional swimming pool?
Yes, that is a key reason to consider this approach. A living pool can have defined geometry, a considered coping detail and an architectural relationship with the terrace. The appearance and filtration specification need to be developed together rather than treating the system as an afterthought.
Can an existing chlorine pool become a living pool?
Some pools can be adapted following an assessment of the structure, pipework, existing equipment and space for suitable filtration. The work required varies, and simply stopping chlorine dosing is not a conversion. We assess the existing installation before recommending a route.
Explore pool conversion ↗Do your living pools include heating?
No. We do not offer heating on any of our pools. Living pools are designed for natural outdoor swimming, with temperatures that vary through the seasons. A contemporary pool appearance should not be taken to mean a heated swimming experience.
Prefer a softer setting?
There is more than one way to swim naturally.
Start with your home
Let’s make the whole design work.
Share the pool you have in mind and the space around it. We will explore the swimming, the finishes and the practical details together.
Pool imagery is illustrative design inspiration. Your design and specification will be developed for your own garden.