At Studio Anqet, we had the pleasure of working on an exciting and fun landscape project designed to serve as an entertainment haven for guests while being usable by all family members. The client, a keen swimmer with children who are competitive swimmers, needed a space that could function both as a training facility and a recreational area. Our goal was to create a therapeutic environment with different aspects that promote the family’s well-being, allowing them and their occasional guests to unwind after a stressful day at work, whether they needed to soak in a hot tub or relax in the sauna.
The design, comprises several areas for different uses throughout the year. It includes an intimate sunken seating area with a firepit, a massage/therapy hot tub, a lap pool, a BBQ and dining building, as well as a Spa building containing a sauna, foot spa, and shower room. Working with the complex topography of the site, it was crucial from a design perspective to ensure that the different building levels create interest in the landscape while also blending seamlessly into it.
The various steps leading to the buildings, into the landscape, and down to the pool, hot tub, and sunken seating around the flat plane surrounding the swimming pool, along with strategically placed planters, create a smooth transition from the man-made structures into the surrounding natural landscape. Furthermore, the reflective glazing on the large glass facades reflects the surrounding landscape, helping to create buildings that conspicuously celebrate nature whilst simultaneously camouflaging with it.
The selection of plants within the scheme, chosen by Raid Architecture, has a balanced mix of evergreen, seasonal, and colourful plants. They also added height and texture with partially tall trees, ferns, and different types of thick grass that change colours throughout the year. This approach provides the landscape and the client with year-round interest and an uplifting feel, even during the gloomy British winters.
Lighting plays a significant role in the design, providing a subtle emphasis and elegant focus on the different types of vegetation while creating an ambient atmosphere for socialising during warm summer nights.
At Studio Anqet, we are thrilled to collaborate with high-end suppliers and construction companies like Four-Square Design & Build, allowing this exceptional design by Raid Architecture to be delivered with the highest quality and attention to detail possible. We are proud to be a part of a project that not only meets the functional requirements of the client but also provides a beautiful and therapeutic space for the entire family to enjoy.
