Landscape Architect - Career Advice - Environments

Swimming Pool Designer

Landscape architects plan and design land areas for projects such as parks, schools, hospitals, roads, malls, plazas, sports complexes, holiday resorts, hotel complexes, shopping centres, airports, housing subdivisions, national parks, playgrounds and commercial, industrial and residential sites. FutureGrowthModerate

Landscape architects plan and design landscape areas for a host of projects. They combine design skills with an understanding of science to create functional, sustainable and manageable landscapes and other outdoor spaces that reflect the requirements of their clients.

ANZSCO description: ID: 232112: Plans and designs land areas for projects such as open space networks, parks, schools, institutions, roads, external areas for all building types, land subdivisions, and commercial, industrial and residential sites.

Specialisations: Landscape architects may specialise in projects such as parks, playgrounds, roads or public housing. They may also specialise in types of services such as regional planning and resource management, site selection, cost studies or site construction.

Landscape architects may work independently or with other professionals such as architects, engineers and town planners.

Knowledge, skills and attributes

A landscape architect needs:

a high level of creativity
developed design skills
good communication skills
to enjoy the natural environment
to be able to work both individually and as part of a team.

Duties and Tasks

Landscape architects may perform the following tasks:

study and discuss designs, costs and construction of projects with clients
talk to architects, engineers and other professionals, and gather information on factors such as historical and natural conservation requirements, soil structure, drainage, rock features, existing and proposed buildings, and sun and shade movements
draw up site plans outlining the development of the site, discuss with clients and seek approval
prepare specifications, arrange cost estimates, list building materials required and detail working drawings of the site, showing features such as location of buildings, roads and walkways; land contours and drainage systems; soil conservation measures; and the vegetation to be planted, retained or removed
undertake heritage studies and plans of management for open space areas
use computer and video-simulation packages to develop broadscale landscape plans
supervise site work
advise on landscape problems concerned with environmental planning.

Working conditions

Landscape architects work in both offices or studios, as well as outdoors. While most of the actual drawing of designs takes place in an office environment, landscape architects must also visit clients to assess sites - and gather information on soil type, pre-existing vegetation and the shape of the land. Landscape architects generally work standard office hours, however when working to deadlines they may also have to work weekends and evenings. Landscape architects often work as part of a team and also have to interact with clients, other architects, engineers, community members, contractors and anyone else involved with a particular project.

Tools and technologies

Landscape architects use a range of drawing and measuring equipment. They may work with both manual equipment, such as pencils, rulers and drawing boards, and electronic equipment, such as Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software and other specialised design programs. When conducting site visits, landscape architects may also use cameras and surveying equipment, including Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), theodolites (for measuring horizontal and vertical angles) and land levels.

Education and training/entrance requirements

To become a landscape architect you usually need to study a degree with a major in landscape architecture.

Did You Know?

"Morgan “Bill” Evans was a horticulturalist that guided the landscape design to Disneyland. He is known as the imagineer who landscaped 80 acres of orange groves into a iconic theme park of attractions. One of his popular attractions was the Jungle Cruise. He was in charge of creating an entire jungle with a built-in river on a limited budget. With his knowledge of exotic plants, he was able to import and create “exotic” plants. He was famous for noticing how orange tree roots were like “exotic jungle branches” and decided to plant them upside down."
(Source: Landscape Architect Daily - I'm going to Disney)

To read more about Evans' work, go to

Pool designers are experts in calculating the feasibility of plans, models, and construction of projects commissioned by their clients. These professionals have a wide variety of categories in which to work- Future Growth Strong from backyard pool structures to million dollar vanishing-edge designs. No matter what area in which they work, a pool designer is an artist whose creations will bring joy to many people, for a very long time.

Swimming pool design refers to the design and creation of the different types of swimming pools and their accessories.

In-ground swimming pools are most commonly constructed from reinforced concrete of fiberglass. Each material has its advantage and disadvantage and choosing between them becomes a question of picking the best construction method for your budget and the particular site requirements. There are different types of swimming pools and the most common pool styles are plunge pools, free-form pool, geometric pool, lap pool, diving pool, infinity pool and the perimeter overflow pool.

Swimming pool designers need to work with Structural Engineers to work out any stress issues.

A swimming pool builder or architect will usually employ a structural engineer to insure that the loads being exerted on the pool’s concrete or fiberglass shell can withstand the expected loads. Different soil textures encountered, proximity to building foundations, toe and heal hillsides locations, subsoil strata composition, seismic zone proximity, hydro-static water conditions and a host of other site specific conditions may exist. An essential component to swimming pool design can involve reviewing the results of the geotechnical report (test borings, soil sampling, etc.), which in turn will direct the prescribed remedy for directing the structural engineering application. If the proposed site contains a number of retaining walls, services and other buildings, the structural engineer should conduct a site inspection before finalising the engineering details.

Swimming Pool
(Source: Home Improvement Pages)

ANZSCO ID: N/A

Knowledge, skills and attributes

There are several different types of swimming pools. Traditional pools can either be installed above the ground or sunk into the ground. Because of their location, the designs of many above ground swimming pools are somewhat limited, and these generally only come in a few different shapes and depths. Designers typically have more leeway when designing below ground swimming pools, however. For instance, below ground pools can often be made in nearly any shape, with varying depths.

Individuals also have the option of choosing from a traditional swimming pool design and a natural swimming pool design. Natural swimming pools are pools that are made mostly from natural materials, and they are created to mimic the look of a natural body of water, although they also have many of the same amenities as a traditional swimming pool. These pools will often have aquatic vegetation and even fish, for instance, but they will also usually have filtration systems and drains as well.

These types of designers will sometimes create custom swimming pool designs for private clients, like individuals or community centres, and some will create designs for commercial swimming pool manufacturers. During the design process, designers must take into consideration the wants, needs, and budgets of their clients.

A designer will often have to design and draw the visible parts of the pool as well as the non-visible parts of the pool, such as the filtration system and pipes. Most swimming pool designers also have a hand in designing any added swimming pool accessories, such as attached decks, slides, diving boards, and spa systems. When designing a swimming pool, a swimming pool designer must create a pool that is not only functional, but also safe, practical, and aesthetically pleasing, as well as possible.

Safety is a major concern when designing swimming pools. Improperly designed swimming pools can be very dangerous, and designers can possibly be liable for any injuries suffered when swimmers are using their pools. Properly designed swimming pools should include safe entry and exit apparatuses, like diving boards and ladders.

A swimming pool designer must also concentrate on the structural integrity of every swimming pool that he designs. Swimming pools must be designed and built to last, and designers will often need to keep the locations of swimming pools in mind before designing them. In colder areas they should be able to withstand freezing temperatures, for instance, but they should be built to withstand earthquakes in earthquake zones.

Swimming Pool and surrounds

Duties and Tasks

The shape of a swimming pool is also an important aspect of swimming pool design. Generally the most common swimming pools shapes include squares, rectangles, circles, and ovals. Other pools shapes, like kidney shapes and oval shapes, are also quite common. When designing a custom swimming pool, a swimming pool designer must make sure that it is possible and practical to make it a particular shape.

Swimming pool designers will also usually determine what a certain swimming pool should be made from. Some of the most common swimming pool materials include vinyl, fiberglass, and gunite. Metal rods and bars can also be used for support, and concrete can be used to make below ground swimming pools.

Once swimming pool designers design a swimming pool, they will also usually oversee the manufacturing or installation process.

Education and training/entrance requirements

Technically, swimming pool design is a specialized type of architecture or civil engineering. Individuals interested in a swimming pool design career should consider earning a degree in either of these fields.

Employment Opportunities

Individuals who are looking at a swimming pool design career have several different employment options. Professionals in this field may be employed by swimming pool manufacturers to create mass produced swimming pools. They might also be employed by landscape artists and architecture firms as well. As a swimming pool designer, you can also choose to go into business for yourself.

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