Although with fifteen grandchildren at varying ages, a playful water element in the backyard was always needed. After the removal of the gunite pool, a twenty by forty splash pad was designed and installed between the new covered structure and existing pool house. This splash pad provides a commercial park feeling in their private backyard with rhythmic floor jets, a spraying turtle and ladybug, dumping water buckets, and spray nozzles. This wide range of moving water fills the backyard with laughter and playful screams, which warms the grandparents’ hearts knowing that they have provided a safe and playful space for their family.

In the backyard of this private residence in Zionsville, IN, the Connan family have created many memories with their concrete pool deck. As the years passed, the next generation began to learn to swim by being taught by their grandfather. With fifteen grandchildren and counting, the task of teaching each grandchild, while supervising the others, became a difficult task.

With fifteen and counting grandchildren, the safety concern of the deep gunite pool has disappeared. Now, the growing extended family can congregate cohesively under the large roof structure, whose finishing touches match the modern appearance of the main residence.

Upon completion of this original concrete pool deck, the backyard pool and pool deck were a visually attractive feature of this home. As time moved on, the concrete began to crack and absorb pollen from the surrounding landscape on this wooded property creating an eyesore for the homeowners.

During the demolition of the landscape and concrete pool deck, completely removing the gunite pool proved to be a large task. About fourteen inches on the top half of the gunite pool was removed and hauled away leaving the remaining structure of the pool to function as it was designed.

After discussions with the homeowners, the best course of action on the removal of the gunite pool was to leave the bottom portion of the pool intact, but to modify it to fit the new installation. Multiple holes were cut into the bottom of the pool to allow for water to percolate into the ground under the former pool. For maintenance concerns, a twelve-inch corrugated pipe was installed to view the bottom of the pool. If standing water is seen in the bottom of this pipe, the homeowners are instructed to drop a pump into the pipe to pump the collecting water out.

After the hardscape project is complete, only a decorative grate can be seen at the finished grade symbolizing the former gunite pool. Three features of the new hardscape project use the remaining concrete floor of the pool as a structural support. Those features are two posts of the roof structure and Pizza Oven.

With the backyard in full swing, the sounds of the splashing and spraying of water are therapeutic. The view through the tunnel frog brings the covered outdoor living area into the discussion. This outdoor living area allows for this extended family of twenty-five and counting to cohabitate outdoors for a birthday, Mother’s Day, or fourth of July.

With such large covered and uncovered spaces designed in this hardscape project, this growing extended family can enjoy their time outdoors around five gathering spaces. Two of those gathering features can be seen from the splash pad. A living room setup with easy access to the beach entry to the splash pad and a dining room adjacent to the pizza oven are the two communal spaces within this picture.

Just a couple of steps away from the splash pad is the nighttime warmth of this large gas burning fire pit. With this five-foot linear burner, the family can stretch their outdoor entertainment into the evening, while watching the warm flames of the fire pit dance in the wind.

After filling the former gunite pool with flowable aggregate, the modern hardscape features and details were being constructed. With the main residence and existing pool house being in a modern style, the material of the new installations was chosen to complement the overall theme of the property.

Selecting and installing smooth materials highlights the modern appeal of this home, while choosing two contrasting colors allows both colors to pop. With this view from the first floor of the residence, the fourth outdoor attraction and gathering space is shown. An outdoor grill and bar island provides the family with more seating during family gatherings.

The final, but main attraction is the splash pad. During the downtime, this feature demonstrates the playful nature of the family. This contrasts the horizontal and vertical features of the residence and design elements of this modern and formal hardscape project.

After the sun sets, the custom landscape lighting brings this project’s complexity to the next level. Path lights line the perimeter of the paver patio, while accent lights illuminate the canopy of the ornamental trees. This subtle lighting extends the family’s time outside without turning the fan and can lights on, which were incorporated under the structure.

Panning back as the sun sets on this renovated hardscape installation, this extended family can safely enjoy the outdoors together, while splashing around, warming up by the fire pit, cooking pizzas, or talking at the bar waiting for breakfast to finish on the circular black stone grill.

This is the Final Evolution of the Connan Outdoor Living design.