Swimming pool placement: the guide to positioning it well and integrating it
When a client talks to me about a swimming pool, the first question is almost never the right one. I am asked "what size?" or "fibreglass or concrete?", whereas the real question, the one that conditions everything else, is: where to place it? The placement of a swimming pool is decided before the model, before the lining, before the budget — because a poorly oriented or poorly positioned pool cannot be moved. As a landscape architect studio in La Hulpe, we have submitted several swimming pool files this year in Brussels, Walloon Brabant and Flemish Brabant; here, step by step, is how to think through your project in the right order.
Why placement is decided first
The placement of a swimming pool involves three irreversible things: sunlight (therefore comfort and water temperature), integration into the garden and the house, and urban feasibility. This is precisely where a landscape architect intervenes upstream, even before choosing a pool installer: we study the land, the orientation, the views, the permit constraints, and the landscape integration, then we coordinate the implementation. A successful swimming pool is not just a basin placed in a corner — it is an element designed within the whole garden.
Properly orienting your swimming pool: sun, wind, trees
The sun first. We favour a south or south-west orientation: it is the exposure that captures the most light and warms the water naturally, without heating. A west orientation allows you to enjoy the pool under the last rays at the end of the day. The good reflex: observe the path of the sun on your land at different times, from spring to the end of summer, before finalising the location.
The wind next, often overlooked. The prevailing winds cool the water, accelerate evaporation, and push leaves and dust towards the pool. We therefore orient the skimmers facing the wind (so they can collect debris) and protect the pool with a hedge, a wall, a pool house, or a pergola if the house does not already provide a screen.
The trees finally. We keep them at a distance: their leaves dirty the water and increase maintenance, their shade can spoil sunlight, and especially their roots can lift a terrace or damage the pipes. We also think about privacy: a pool should be placed out of sight, and close enough to the house for easy daily access.
Plan for shade — and beware of the heat
It’s a paradox that is often forgotten: we seek full sun for the water, but we also need shade nearby. Plan from the outset a shaded area to rest during the hot hours: pergola (ideally bioclimatic), pool house, shade sail, or well-placed tree.
Also be careful with the surrounding surfaces. A coping or a deck in a dark colour (anthracite, black) heats up significantly in the sun and quickly becomes burning underfoot. In our gardens, we therefore prefer light shades for the deck, which remain walkable even in the full heat.
For the interior lining, colour is a real technical choice. A dark liner absorbs more heat and can raise the water temperature by a few degrees (often 2 to 4 °C in good weather) — an advantage in spring — but it requires more rigorous water treatment monitoring and shows scratches more. A light liner reflects light, keeps the water cooler, and gives a lagoon colour. Note: exposure and depth influence temperature as much, if not more, than colour.
What type of pool? Shell, concrete, swimming lane
Three main categories, to choose from according to budget, desired shape, and terrain.
- Shell pool (polyester): prefabricated, quick installation, controlled budget, but shapes and sizes limited to the catalogue.
- Masonry / concrete pool: custom-built, all shapes possible, the most durable and integrable — longer lead time and higher budget.
- Swimming lane: a long and narrow basin, designed for competitive swimming, that integrates well into contemporary gardens.
An important point: today, size no longer determines the possibility of swimming. Counter-current swimming systems — from German brands like fluvo, BADU Jet, or Hugo Lahme — generate an adjustable current that transforms even a small pool into an endless swimming lane, used by both beginners and elite swimmers. On a small plot, this is often the best solution.
In terms of style, everything plays out in coherence with the house and garden: a contemporary basin with clean lines, or a natural-looking pool that blends into lush vegetation.
Filtration: chlorine, salt, or natural pool
Three approaches, three maintenance philosophies.
- Chlorine: the classic, effective and economical solution for installation, but which requires regular handling of products.
- Salt electrolysis: the dissolved salt is transformed into disinfectant by an electrolyser. The water is gentler on the skin and eyes, the handling of products is reduced — it is now a comfortable standard.
- Natural (biological) pool: here, it is plants and micro-organisms that purify the water, without chlorine. Ecological and beautiful, it does however require a lagooning area (thus space) and specific maintenance. It is a project in its own right, very close to our landscaping profession.
Size, depth and maintenance: see just
The size is determined according to actual use (relaxation swimming, children's games, swimming) and the available surface — not forgetting, particularly in Flanders, the urban planning rules (see below). A deeper pool offers more swimming comfort but represents a larger volume to heat, filter and maintain. Also anticipate regular maintenance: winterising, cover to limit leaves and dirt, cleaning. A well-placed pool (away from trees, protected from the wind) gets dirty less — the right location means less maintenance.
Planning permission: what changes between regions
This is the most underestimated point, and it varies greatly by region. Here are the basic principles — always check with your municipality, as a housing development, a PCA or a local regulation may be stricter.
- Wallonia : an in-ground pool is exempt from a permit up to 75 m², provided it is at least 3 m from the boundary lines, for private use, outside of high flood risk areas, without significant alteration of the terrain. Beyond any one of these conditions, a permit is required — most often a limited impact permit, without a mandatory architect.
- Flanders : the key rule is that of 80 m². The pool and all uncovered surfaces already present in the back garden (terraces, paths, walkways, water features) must not exceed 80 m² in total to remain exempt; it is also necessary to respect at least 1 m from the boundaries (often 3 m in side gardens). This is where many projects get stuck: on an old property that is already very mineralised, existing terraces often fill the quota — and the pool then falls into the requirement for a permit.See rules.
- Brussels : the Region applies its own rules, and a permit is frequently necessary. To be checked on a case-by-case basis.
This is exactly the type of file we manage: this year, we have submitted applications in all three regions.Our office tells you right away if your project qualifies for exemption or requires a permit, and takes care of the submission.
The true role of the landscape architect
A pool builder constructs the basin; the landscape architect decides where and how it fits into your garden. We intervene upstream: analysing the terrain and sunlight, orientation, managing privacy and wind, choosing beach materials, integrating plantings, creating shaded areas, and overseeing the urban planning aspect. The result: a pool that looks like it has always been there, rather than a basin added afterwards.
Conclusion : Properly placing your pool means addressing in advance what cannot be changed later: the orientation, integration, and permit. Take the time for this reflection before choosing a model — this is where the success of the project is won (or lost). Want a professional's view on your land?
Umilys is a landscape architecture studio based in La Hulpe (Walloon Brabant), specialising in garden design and pool integration in Brussels, Walloon Brabant, and Flemish Brabant.
FAQ
What is the best orientation for a pool?
A south or south-west orientation is generally recommended: it offers maximum sunlight and warms the water naturally. A west-facing exposure allows you to enjoy the pool at the end of the day. You should also consider prevailing winds, which cool the water, and keep the pool away from large trees.
Is a planning permit required for a pool in Belgium?
It depends on the region, size, and municipality. In Wallonia, an in-ground pool is exempt up to 75 m² under certain conditions (3 m from boundaries, private use). In Flanders, the total area of uncovered surfaces in the back garden must not exceed 80 m². Brussels has its own rules. A subdivision or local regulation may be stricter: always check with your municipality.
Can you swim in a small pool?
Yes. A counter-current swimming system generates an adjustable current that allows you to swim in place, transforming a small pool into an endless swimming lane — suitable for both beginners and experienced swimmers.
What colour should be chosen for the beach and coping?
Light shades, especially for the beach and the coping stones: a dark coping stone (anthracite, black) heats up strongly in the sun and becomes uncomfortable, even burning, underfoot in summer.