For decades, Albatross Pools has been a force to be reckoned with at the SPASA awards. These awards are an annual tradition for Victoria’s Swimming Pool and Spa Association, and they recognise outstanding and innovative swimming pool design and construction. We’ve won many SPASA awards in recent years for SPASA Victoria, but this year, we’ve be very fortunate to receive two SPASA Australia National Awards: an award for Best Pre-engineered Vinyl Lined Pool and another for Best Display Centre across Australia.
Our ‘Best Pre-Engineered Vinyl Lined Pool’ Award
We were happy to win an award for the pool we designed for a Lake Wendouree family this past year. They own a nice house on a small piece of property, and we think that our design is a really great-looking and practical answer to conflicting priorities. In this case, the family wanted a multi-purpose pool, but their site plan didn’t have a lot of leeway. It’s a bind that a lot of Victorian households find themselves in, and they often assume that there’s no solution to it and give up on their dream of having an in-ground pool. We’re happy that we’re getting some publicity for this design, because it’s a concept that a lot of people might want to put to work on their own property (if you are building a house and a swimming pool at the same time).

Here’s the problem we solved: our clients wanted a pool that could be used
- for swimming laps; and
- for entertaining.
Yet, they had very little space to work with. Their attractive, contemporary-style house is situated on a small lot, without enough room for a lap pool in the back. Here’s the solution: we designed and built a pool that’s snug up against their home’s foundation and the side wall of their lot. Instead of a foot path on the side of their house, they now have a swimming path; a 16 metre lap pool that’s great for keeping fit.
However, this distinctive-looking pool isn’t just for swimming laps. It widens into a more social and relaxed shape as it steps up to the el fresco area in the back garden. So, it’s laps in the morning and good times with family and friends in the evening. It’s exactly what our clients wanted, and the limited space that we had available is actually what makes the design so beautiful. It creates a dramatic effect when viewed from the interior of the house, from the el fresco area or from most rooms in the house.
Our ‘Best Display Centre’ Award
We have had plenty of practice building pools next to building foundations. In fact, we used a similar design and the same construction techniques at our display centre at Dandenong. Our L-shaped display pool wraps around one of our buildings. It has an Aqualux interior with a classic mosaic tile pattern and a handsome coordinated bluestone tile surround. Its dramatic design is clearly visible from the street, and it often draws potential customers into our sales area. Everyone is interested in how a below-ground pool can be constructed near the side of a building. It’s a space saving and truly beautiful design option.

As lot sizes shrink and the cost of a new house in the Melbourne area goes up, we have more and more people asking us about pool designs that can make efficient use of scarce outdoor space. We’re happy to tell you that we are qualified and experienced at building high quality, long lasting steel framed, Aqualux pools, and yes — in many cases, they can be built near the side of a house (depending on the footings depth of the house).
If this is a pool building technique that interests you, either because space is scarce or you like the dramatic look of a pool — almost like a moat! — right next to your house, then don’t hesitate to give us a call. Even better, stop by our display centre in Dandenong and take a look at our award-winning display pool.