Pool Windows: What to Know Before Adding One to Your Swimming Pool

Before installing a pool window, there are some things you should know.

I don’t believe it’s a good idea to install pool windows for the sake of it, but they can be spectacular.

As with most things in a garden, there must be a purpose for them.

When placed in the right spot, a pool window can create a connection between the swimming pool, house, entertaining area and surrounding landscape. When used incorrectly, it can be a costly addition that doesn’t provide much value.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind before you add one.

Start with the view

My first question would be a simple one:

What can you see on the other side of the window?

Where will you view it from? The house? An outdoor dining area? A lower portion of the garden?

A pool window works best when it creates a meaningful connection between two spaces.

For instance, if the pool is set above an entertaining space, a clear panel can be used instead of a solid wall. You are not seeing concrete or stone, you are seeing right into the water.

That’s a very different experience.

Pool windows are ideal for raised pools

I think pool windows are best in raised pools.

When the pool is above ground level, you will be exposing some of the pool wall. That wall can sometimes be beautifully finished in stone or concrete. Other times, opening up a part of it makes a much bigger impact.

This method was employed in our Modern Glass Window Pool at Bondi.

The pool was raised so that it could be viewed from the house and outdoor areas. The window then opened up the exposed side of the pool and made another connection between the water and the garden.

The important part is that the pool window wasn’t added afterwards as a decorative feature.

It was a consideration from the beginning.

Think about what it would be like from inside the house

People standing by a swimming pool tend to think about what the pool looks like from outside.

I’m also curious about what it will look like from inside the house.

Examine the primary areas of your home and consider where your eye tends to wander.

In smaller backyards, where the pool is relatively close to the house, a well-placed pool window can offer a direct view into the pool.

The movement, reflections and changing light can provide a lot more interest than a solid pool wall.

Bigger does not necessarily mean better

It’s easy to get carried away with making pool windows as large as possible.

I wouldn’t do that without thinking.

The size should be in proportion to the pool and garden.

Sometimes, a single large panel is the best option. In other cases, a smaller window surrounded by stone, concrete or planting can seem much more thought out.

The window should be integrated into the landscape, not a distraction.

Take into account the colour of the pool

The interior colour of the pool can have a significant impact on the view you see through the window.

Green mosaic tiles were employed for the Bondi project, as a significant part of the pool is under tree cover.

The water is brighter and more aqua in direct sunlight. In shade, it has a tendency to shift to deeper green and jade shades.

Those colours are even more prominent when viewed through a pool window.

That is why I don’t like to select pool finishes by themselves. The appearance of the finished water will be influenced by the light, planting, materials and surroundings.

Plan the window ahead of time

A pool window is a component of the pool structure and should be taken into account early in the process.

The size, location and type of panel all impact the concrete shell, engineering, waterproofing and surrounding finishes.

It’s not something I would recommend making a decision on halfway through construction.

When it is resolved correctly during the planning phase, the window can seem like a natural part of the completed pool.

Should you put in a pool window?

This is site dependent.

I would think of one where:

• The pool is raised above ground level.
• There is an exposed pool wall next to an entertaining area.
• The house has a strong orientation towards the pool.
• There are changing levels on the site.
• The window connects the pool to the garden.

I would not be as likely to add one just because it looks nice in a picture.

There are lots of other ways I’d like to spend the budget.

The best pool windows are the ones that seem like no big deal

A good pool window shouldn’t require an explanation.

Once you see the finished garden, you should be able to see why it is there.

The pool level, window, materials, planting and surrounding areas should all be connected.

This is what we wanted to do with the Glass Window Pool project in Bondi.

The window wasn’t where the process began.

It was a result of making the pool function correctly with the site levels and the way the garden would be used from the house.