Making a splash: a shipping container pool is the ideal solution for projects on precarious landscapes

Utilitarian by nature, shipping containers are essential in transporting goods around the world. Now, with some innovative upcycling, these highly durable receptacles are being given a new lease on life. Providing an appealing alternative to traditional pool options, Shipping Container Pools creates an all-in-one, above-ground pool solution suitable for all kinds of landscapes and locations.

Initially created for properties otherwise unsuitable for an above-ground pool, Shipping Container Pools received a Gold Good Design Award for their instantly recognisable design, lower price point and accessibility in comparison to traditional pool options. Using flexible and intuitive design in conjunction with technical structural support, shipping container pools can be placed in locations typically not congenial to housing pools, making them a viable solution for properties on sloped sites and other difficult locations.

Marrying sustainable design with a unique industrial aesthetic, shipping container pools have grown in popularity over the past few years. Here’s why you should consider one for your next project.

“Our pools are ready to be picked up from our warehouse complete with decking, plumbing, paint and everything needed inside to get started,” Shipping Container Pools co-founder and CEO Jonavan Roux tells ArchiPro. Given that the pool itself is a shipping container, transport is a breeze. “Once the pool arrives, the customer's installer facilitates the placement of the pool depending on the site requirements,” explains Jonavan. “Every site is different and that is what is so unique about the product capability.”

Once on-site, the pool simply needs to be craned into location. Easier spaces such as decks and backyards result in swifter installations, while more precarious sloped sites require prior site preparation in the form of a support structure built in consultation with a surveyor and engineer. After being safely secured, an electrician supplies power to the pool, it's approved by a pool safety certifier, and then it's ready to be filled. 

Boasting a unique, industrial aesthetic, Shipping Container Pools can be further tailored to clients’ tastes. “We offer a range of colour selections so that the pool can complement the colour scheme of the project,” says Roux of the standard colour options which include neutral external hues of grey, deep blue, and charcoal, as well as nature-inspired timber-look decking options. For creative homeowners, there are ample options for further customisation, with Roux telling us “we’ve done pink pools, orange pools, teal pools - you name it!”

Additionally, the pools can be modified to include windows along the side to take advantage of panoramic views, or feature retractable decking that serves double duty as a pool cover. For increased comfort, add-on options like heaters and swim jets have proven popular with Shipping Container Pools’ customers.

Shipping Container Pools makes it possible for homeowners with the most challenging of sites to have the pool of their dreams. A notable recent project was an oceanfront property on St Andrews Beach in Victoria, which features the company’s largest pool offering secured sturdily to the sloped site.

“This 12m pool was built for a customer who had dreams of owning a lap pool and knew the challenges with regards to her slope, site and conditions of her surroundings being based next to the ocean,” explains Jonavan. “A massive crane was organised to lift the pool across the roof of the customer's house and into location.” 

Taking into account the seaside conditions, the team also installed an electronic rust-prevention system to keep the pool looking as good as the day it was installed.

Explore more projects and products by Shipping Container Pools here or get in touch.

Words by Tanisha Angel