A Barren Backyard Becomes an Aquatic Oasis
This landscape redesign gives homeowners a place to cool off and relax in the Arizona desert
From partially submerged chaise lounges, the two owners of this newly redesigned backyard in Tucson, Arizona, can relax comfortably outdoors in the middle of summer. “When it’s a 110-degree day, that’s quite a feat,” says landscape designer Kathryn Prideaux.
The outdoor space, which includes new hardscape, fencing, drought-tolerant plantings and a showstopping blue-tiled pool, is a far cry from the barren, underutilized space that used to constitute the backyard. They barely used it. Now it’s the center of the home, enjoyed from both indoors and out.
The outdoor space, which includes new hardscape, fencing, drought-tolerant plantings and a showstopping blue-tiled pool, is a far cry from the barren, underutilized space that used to constitute the backyard. They barely used it. Now it’s the center of the home, enjoyed from both indoors and out.
After. A new pool, the homeowners’ primary wish for the redesign, is 29 by 9 feet and anchors the backyard. They use it to exercise and cool off in the hot desert sun. At one end sits a shallow shelf, where the homeowners can relax in their lounge chairs, partially submerged in the water, in the shade of a patio umbrella that can pop into a built-in hole in the shelf.
The pool wall is raised 18 inches above the surrounding ground, providing additional seating for guests, helping to keep leaf litter out and also giving the yard some height. “Because the yard is so flat, it gives dimension and architecture to the space,” Prideaux says. Blue-glass tile covers exposed areas of the pool, down to the water line. “The blue tile makes it look like a cube of water,” she says.
The pool was also sited so that it would be visible from the house. “I think it’s really important that the view from the inside sees the pool and the water,” Prideaux says, adding that in a region like Tucson, where temperatures can soar, even being able to see the pool water can have a cooling effect.
Chaise lounges: Ledge Lounger
The pool wall is raised 18 inches above the surrounding ground, providing additional seating for guests, helping to keep leaf litter out and also giving the yard some height. “Because the yard is so flat, it gives dimension and architecture to the space,” Prideaux says. Blue-glass tile covers exposed areas of the pool, down to the water line. “The blue tile makes it look like a cube of water,” she says.
The pool was also sited so that it would be visible from the house. “I think it’s really important that the view from the inside sees the pool and the water,” Prideaux says, adding that in a region like Tucson, where temperatures can soar, even being able to see the pool water can have a cooling effect.
Chaise lounges: Ledge Lounger
After. Prideaux kept the brick walls but replaced the wood with rusted steel panels, a material she frequently incorporates into her projects. Here, the rust colors of the steel and adobe brick complement each other and pop against the glistening blue tile and water.
The steel does well in the desert, lending itself to the colors and textures of the popular modern rustic aesthetic. It also stands up to the region’s extreme climate and low humidity, lasting for years or decades.
The steel does well in the desert, lending itself to the colors and textures of the popular modern rustic aesthetic. It also stands up to the region’s extreme climate and low humidity, lasting for years or decades.
After. Instead of using solid steel panels, Prideaux installed rusted steel screens, opening up the yard to the attractive view in the distance. While Prideaux says she normally doesn’t mix fence panels like she did here, the consistency of the materials and brick walls maintain a cohesive and attractive design.
Prideaux had the area underneath the porch as well as the area surrounding the pool paved with concrete in an etched finish. “It’s my absolute favorite finish,” she says. The process exposes more of the aggregate in the concrete, leading to an attractive look that also creates nice traction for a wet area like a pool.
The concrete is arranged in long linear strips with 4-inch gaps between that are filled with the loose stone original to the yard. “It’s a break in the concrete that gives it just a little textural difference,” she says. The strips also allowed Prideaux to carve out sub areas within the backyard.
Prideaux had the area underneath the porch as well as the area surrounding the pool paved with concrete in an etched finish. “It’s my absolute favorite finish,” she says. The process exposes more of the aggregate in the concrete, leading to an attractive look that also creates nice traction for a wet area like a pool.
The concrete is arranged in long linear strips with 4-inch gaps between that are filled with the loose stone original to the yard. “It’s a break in the concrete that gives it just a little textural difference,” she says. The strips also allowed Prideaux to carve out sub areas within the backyard.
One such area is the fire pit seating area at the end of the pool. She paved this mini patio within a patio with stabilized decomposed granite. It’s still permeable but more solid than loose DG. “It’s a nice surface to have furniture on, rather than loose rock,” the designer says.
Patio furniture: Boxhill Design; see more Acapulco chairs
Patio furniture: Boxhill Design; see more Acapulco chairs
Prideaux installed a custom rusted steel planter so the homeowners could grow fresh produce. The planter’s size and location in the shade mean any heat gain from the metal is negligible — and the tomatoes and peppers that typically are growing there thrive.
The rest of the plants in the landscape are low-maintenance and well-adapted to the climate. They include agave, ornamental grasses, euphorbia and other regional favorites. (The small plants will mature and fill in.) “I really love to use structural plants, especially in a modern garden,” she says.
Pool builder: Cimarron Circle Construction Company
Landscape contractor: Sonoran Gardens
More
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Cor-Ten Steel Brings Enduring Texture to Landscapes
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The rest of the plants in the landscape are low-maintenance and well-adapted to the climate. They include agave, ornamental grasses, euphorbia and other regional favorites. (The small plants will mature and fill in.) “I really love to use structural plants, especially in a modern garden,” she says.
Pool builder: Cimarron Circle Construction Company
Landscape contractor: Sonoran Gardens
More
8 Ideas for Petite Pools
Cor-Ten Steel Brings Enduring Texture to Landscapes
Find a landscape design professional
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A retired couple that travels often
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Size: 1,500 square feet (139 square meters); 75 by 20 feet
Designer: Kathryn Prideaux of Prideaux Design
The homeowners often use this side entrance to move between the house and the driveway and adjacent detached garage, walking through the backyard to do so. Prideaux opened up the entryway, which had been just a narrow wood fence, and installed a new gate made from rusted steel panels. Not only does the gate create a grander entrance, its height also adds more privacy to the backyard. A wood handle was installed along the gate’s edge, as the steel can warm up in the sun.
Two new Mexican holdback trees (Caesalpinia mexicana) frame the new gate. These heat- and drought-tolerant patio trees add texture and color to the entrance and will maintain a tidy size.