The Inspiring Winners Of Our 2020 Pinnacle Awards

In the eyes of our esteemed judges, these projects represent the year’s best in pool and outdoor living design.

Photograph by Jimi Smith Photography

Light Up the Night

This remodeled poolscape in Florida boasts three water walls that flow into a perimeter overflow reflecting fountain. Custom fire features and thoughtful landscaping create a soothing environment.


Project Team

Ike’s Carter Pool Companies, Inc.
Premier Paradise

 

Photographs by Lifestyle Production

Meet me in Miami

This infinity-edge pool is accentuated by a three-sided Lautner knife-edge deck. A sunken living room, fire pit, cabana, bar, and kitchen complete the space.


Project Team
Aquatic Consultants, Inc.
Choeff Levy Fischman
Chris Cawley Landscape Architecture
LFL Development

 

Jimi Smith Photography

Point of View

Creating lines of sight were critical to this design to accomplish a flowing point of view from the home’s exterior glass doors, over the overflowing spa, and across the pool to the sunken fire lounge.


Project Team
Ryan Hughes Design/ Build
Aquatic Glazing
and Lucas Lagoons (Custom rock grotto)

 

Photographs by ishot.ca

Multi-Level Design

This ultra-modern design has a multitude of waterscapes and amenities, including a pavilion, fire features, and Koi pond that doubles as an aquarium.


Project Team
Alka Pool Construction Ltd
Paul Sangha Creative
Powers Construction
O&S Engineering

 

Photographs by Jeri Koegel

Aqua Garden

Truly captivating both during the day and night, the stunning poolscape is the perfect place to relax. The pool’s beach entry, a mosaic of sand-colored tiles that blend out of the California room, creates harmony between the home and the pool area.


Project Team
California Landscape Studios
Realm Design

 


Lawrence Mansell Photography

INTRACOASTAL ZEN

The shape of the pool is a beautiful extension of the modern architecture of the house. The space includes a covered sunken seated area, two stepping-stone access points, and a modern fire bar.


Project by
Mark Crew of Van Kirk & Sons Pools & Spas

 

Photograph by Jimi Smith Photography

sunset dreams

Clean lines and a low profile wall enable unobstructed lake views. The huge cantilever roof gives a great architectural look, and also allows for a water feature to fall completely into the pool.


Project Team
Platinum Pools
Infinite Custom Patios

 

Photographs by Jimi Smith Photography

Elevated Design

The contemporary styling of this pool perfectly complements the architecture of the home. It is suspended approximately 10 feet above grade and pushed up under the cantilevered home


Project Team
Design Ecology / Design Aquatics
Dick Clark & Associates
Jon Luce Builder
Steinman Luevano Structures LLP

 

Zero-Edge Retreat

A zero-entry perimeter and carefully placed illumination are key design features of this luxury pool and outdoor living space in Guatemala. The pool surrounds the house (in some places with shallow water reflecting pools), providing different spaces for social entertaining.


Project Team

Proporción y Escala
Watermania S.A.
Photos by Javier Gonzalez

 

Photograph by Jimi Smith Photography

sophisticated Pool Party

This organic-shaped pool is loaded with custom features, including a one-of-a-kind cantina spa-bar that sits inside a custom timber cabana, full-size kitchen, and walk-up bar inside the pool.


Project Team
Tipton Spires Design|Build

 

Photo by Phillip Ennis Productions

water world

Water weaves together the indoor and outdoor living spaces in this open-plan residence. Features range from indoor pool with spa, sauna, and steam room to multiple outdoor living spaces, including a pool and sculptural river.


Project Team
Aquacade Pools
Narosky Architecture
Tectonic Engineering
Wonder Works Construction
Wonder Works Interior Design

 

Photograph courtesy of Wesley Stout

Crystal Clear

The outdoor spaces, knife edge pool, and raised spa were all designed to seamlessly cascade from the house down the coastal slope, all while maintaining spatial connections and optimizing the vistas to the harbor, the Long Island Sound, and the islands beyond.


Project Team
Drakeley Pool Company
Wesley Stout Associates
Ben Krupinski Builder
Douglas Vanderhorn Architects
Luppino Landscape and Masonry
Redniss & Mead
Westport Glass

 

Photo by Farshid Assassi

MODERN Masterpiece

There is a beautiful cohesiveness between the modern rectilinear design of the main house and pool house, and the long clean lines of the pool and landscape. This is an architectural masterpiece in both design and construction.


Project Team
Paradise Pools and Gardens
Christopher Yates Landscape Architecture
Modern House Architects
Watershape Consulting Inc.

 

Photographs by Jimi Smith Photography

REGAL DESIGN

The design/build team helped a family transform their home and backyard, nestled in the rolling countryside of historic Franklin, Tennessee, into an amenity-rich resort with a distinct modern European style.


Project Team
J.Brownlee Design
Cutting Edge Construction
Southern Luxury Construction
Waterscapes Backyard Resorts

 

Photograph by MYN Luxury Corps

SLEEK & Stylish

The partially acrylic spa with fire feature and acrylic fountain makes this an innovation in design and ingenuity. The materials used in the fire and water features and the overall landscape design match the modern, sleek style of the home’s architecture.


Project by
Brian Van Kirk of Van Kirk & Sons Pools & Spas

 

Jimi Smith Photography

NIRVANA

This signature design delivers a simplicity of style while displaying an abundance of natural elements and interesting features designed to use energy forces to harmonize the individuals with their surrounding environment.


Project Team
Ryan Hughes Design/Build
Aquatic Glazing
Elite Precast
Mosaicist, Inc.

 

Photographs by Jimi Smith Photography

Modern FarmhousE

This negative-edge pool is a focal point from every viewpoint of this modern farmhouse. A spa was designed to fit snugly in the corner nook base of this arrow-shaped pool.


Project Team
Pool Environments, Inc.
Randy Angell Designs, Inc.

 

Photograph by Felipe Ariano

Tropical Oasis

The architects combined modern design with warm elements including natural stone, glass, wood, and water features to capture the essence of a modern tropical oasis. It also features an outdoor kitchen and cabana with rooftop access.


Project Team
Choeff Levy Fischman
Mackle Construction Co.
Mauricio Del Valle Design
The Aquablue Group

 

Photograph by Jimi Smith Photography

Reflections

Packing a powerful “wow” factor, this signature outdoor design makes every day at home feel like a vacation. Among these features is a vanishing edge spa, sunken fire pit,  intimate grotto, water feature walls, and a sun shelf that appears to disappear into the turf.


Project Team
Ryan Hughes Design/Build
Mosaicist, Inc.

 

Photograph by Jimi Smith Photography

FLOAT AWAY

This resort-like pool has individual floating decks for lounging over a raised rim pool. Tucked away in the back of the yard there is a sunken seating area with fire pit and outdoor kitchen. Truly a backyard for entertaining.


Project Team
DW Development
Danny Wang Design

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