Waterville | Riverfront Poolscape
This Waterville, Ohio project involved the design and coordination of a custom riverfront swimming pool integrated into a steep bluff site. The freeform gunite pool was positioned to work with the natural slope, incorporating stone decking, an integrated slide, and structured grade transitions to maintain stability and visual flow.
Through slope mapping, elevation modeling, and strategic grading, the site was reshaped into a series of functional terraces. The pool, waterfall features, and circulation paths were aligned to establish a cohesive relationship between the home, landscape, and riverbank.
Project Overview
Location: Waterville, Ohio
Site Condition: Steep riverfront bluff requiring structural terracing
Pool Type: Custom freeform gunite pool
Primary Features: New Structural retaining walls, integrated waterfall, terraced hardscape, river-facing layout
Role: Design, grading strategy, structural coordination, and construction alignment
Design Strategy
New structural retaining walls were introduced to stabilize the bluff and create usable outdoor space across multiple elevations. Terraced levels were aligned to support circulation between the pool, seating areas, and river access. The pool and waterfall were positioned to reinforce the layered character of the site, allowing the finished environment to feel integrated into the landscape rather than placed on it.
Site Modeling & Layout Planning
Digital terrain modeling was used to evaluate grade transitions, wall placement, and circulation before construction began.
Final Result
You move through this space, not just across it.
From the house, the grade begins to step down naturally toward the pool. The deck feels nestled into the hillside — protected on one side, open to river views on the other. Kids use the slide and lower path as playable terrain, adults flow easily between pool deck and lawn, and nothing feels forced or engineered. It feels discovered.
