Swimming Pool Designs Designer

Creative swimming pool designs for people with disabilities.

Design

Design is the formulation of an aesthetic and functional plan that considers the human interaction with an object.

Where's the design?

When installing a commercially purchased hydraulic handicapped lift, where are the aesthetics and creativity?  Unsightly, obtrusive, invasive, obstruction and hazard are descriptive words that come to mind.  

The installation of a deck mounted handicapped lift on a commercial or public pool actually violates other codes, ones that require unobstructed access around the entire perimeter of the pool.

Thoughtful design keeps everyone happy

To remain code compliant with all of the various and conflicting codes, one needs to get creative.

Two easy solutions are transfer seat walls or ramps.  A beach entrance can easily function as an ADA compliant access ramp, provided that the slopes are correct.

A transfer seat is merely a wall of the pool that is free standing.  The pool deck is lowered 18 inches in relation to the pool coping.  A wheelchair bound person, merely transfers to this raised bench and swings around into the pool.

With a little thought, ugly pool deck mounted handicapped lifts are not required to remain compliant with the ADA.


Paolo Benedetti - Aquatic Artist 
"Creating water as art."™ 
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa ©www.aquatictechnology.com 
You may contact Paolo Benedetti at: info@aquatictechnology.com or at 408-776-8220

Hillside swimming pool desginer

Preventing movement and cracks of hillside swimming pools requires expert planning and a well executed design.  It also requires specific data gathering before a design can even be started.

Topographical Survey

It all begins with a survey of the property.  The topography of the slopes must be determined, so that the proper setbacks can be adhered to.  

This will ensure that the structures do not slide down the slope or cause loads that may entice slope failure.

What kind of soils do you have?

Next, the composition of the existing soils must be determined.  The structural engineer will need to know if the soils can support the anticipated loads.

Defining the soils conditions will also assist in determining if the slope is on native soil, poorly or uncompacted fill (common in hillside housing developments), the depth of the topsoil or if the bedrock is just below the surface (making excavation or drilling difficult). 

The soils report will also advise if there are unusual conditions (e.g. high water levels, expansive clay soils, vertical sheer planes, fragile bedrock, earthquake fissures) that may require specialized engineering.

"Steeper equals Deeper"

A good rule of thumb for sloping lots is "steeper equals deeper."  This means that the steeper the slope is, the deeper the foundations will need to be.

This is because the building codes require that the lowest outside point of the structure maintain a prescribed horizontal setback to the face of the slope (in proportion to the height of the structure).

The setback requirements are greater for occupied dwellings than for swimming pools, decks and retaining walls.


Paolo Benedetti - Aquatic Artist 
"Creating water as art."™ 
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa ©www.aquatictechnology.com 
You may contact Paolo Benedetti at: info@aquatictechnology.com or at 408-776-8220