Desert modern plunge pool in Scottsdale

A sharp little rectangle in gravel and agave, with a glass fence the pool code asks for and a bubbler to cool the sound.

Suits: desert modern houses on a inner-ring suburb in Arizona, Nevada and the desert Southwest.

Desert modern
Mid-range tier
Small yard
Plunge
Sun shelf

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Desert modern plunge pool in Scottsdale: a desert modern yard in Scottsdale, AZ, with a gravel yard with saguaro, golden barrel cactus, agave and ocotillo, Camelback Mountain rising in the distance. — Drawn for a low flat-roofed desert modern house in sand-colored stucco with a rusted steel accent wall and deep overhangs, with a gravel yard with saguaro, golden barrel cactus, agave and ocotillo, Camelback Mountain rising in the distance.

Size: 16 × 8 ft; 3.5 to 5 ft deep
Water surface: 130 sq ft
Water: about 2,400 gal
Coping: 48 linear ft
Deck: 630 sq ft

The design, spelled out

Every choice in this pool, what it is, and why it suits this house and this part of the country.

Depth profile

The floor is 3.5 ft deep at the steps and stays level for about 4 ft, slopes over about 5 ft, then runs level at 5 ft for the last 6 ft. A sun shelf sits at the other end.

ShapeRectangle: A rectangle with square corners. It is the simplest to build, covers neatly and fits a modern or formal house.
Size16 × 8 ft: A small pool about 8 ft wide and 16 ft long. A plunge pool is for cooling off, soaking and a small yard, not for swimming laps. That is about 130 sq ft of water and about 2,400 gallons.
StepsCorner steps: Steps tucked into a corner. Keeps the water free for swimming and saves space in a small pool. The steps lead into water 3.5 ft deep.
Sun shelfSun shelf: A shallow ledge a few inches under the water. Kids play and adults lounge on it, and bubblers or a chair fit there.
Pool finishQuartz: Plaster with quartz aggregate, smooth with a bit of sparkle. Usually holds color and resists staining better than plain plaster, and stays gentle on feet. In strong sun, a lighter finish fades less and hides scale from hard water.
Finish colorLight grey finish, soft turquoise water: A light grey interior. Gives soft turquoise water that suits most houses.
Waterline tileCharcoal: Charcoal glass at the waterline. A bold, modern line that deepens the water color. It runs about 48 linear ft around this pool.
CopingPorcelain: Large-format grey porcelain with a square edge. Crisp and low maintenance, ideal beside a modern house. Check it is rated for exterior use where it freezes. It runs about 48 linear ft around this pool. A light coping stays cooler on bare feet in summer.
DeckPorcelain tile: Large-format light grey porcelain tile. A modern, low maintenance deck that resists stains and fading. The deck is about 630 sq ft here. Here the deck is the hottest thing in the yard, so surface color matters as much as material.
PlantingDesert: Gravel, agave, succulents and boulders. Uses little water and keeps leaves out of the pool. A low-water planting plan keeps leaves out of the water and the bill down.
Pool fenceGlass: A frameless glass pool fence. It keeps the view open. Your town's barrier code sets the height, the gate and the latch, so ask before you design around it.
Water featuresBubblers: Bubblers: Small domes of water rising on the sun shelf. A soft sound and a cooling touch on a shelf, with little plumbing.
Moving water raises evaporation, so keep features modest and run them on a timer.
FurnitureLoungers: Loungers: A pair of chaise loungers. The first thing people want on a pool deck.
LightGolden hour: Shown in golden-hour light. Low sun is when the finish, the tile and the planting look their best.

Why it fits the inner-ring suburb

The yard: a gravel yard with saguaro, golden barrel cactus, agave and ocotillo, Camelback Mountain rising in the distance. An inner-ring suburb lot is mid sized, so the design balances the pool, the deck and the lawn. Established neighborhoods have mature trees, older houses and neighbors close by. A pool that matches the house and keeps privacy with planting or a clean fence tends to feel at home.

Why it fits the desert modern house

The house is a low flat-roofed desert modern house in sand-colored stucco with a rusted steel accent wall and deep overhangs. A desert modern house pairs sharp geometry with gravel, agave and big shade. A tight rectangle, a glass fence and desert planting keep water use low and the look crisp against the sky and the mountains.

Turn this design around in 3D

This is the model behind the numbers above, with this design's own shape, steps, finish and deck. It loads when you scroll to it.

The same choices as the picture, as a model you can turn.

Will this fit your yard?

A planning estimate, built from the model's own dimensions. Your town's setbacks decide the real answer.

Clear area to plan on

34 × 26 ft

About 884 sq ft. The pool alone is 16 × 8 ft.

Plan on a clear area of about 34 by 26 ft for the pool, 4 ft of deck around the water and 5 ft to the fence line. The deck as drawn here is about 33 by 25 ft.

The 4 ft walkway and 5 ft setback are our planning allowances, not code. Towns set their own distances from the water to the lot line and the house, so ask yours before you commit to a layout.

Will it fit your yard?

Width, ftDepth, ft

Enter the clear area, from the house to the back fence and side to side.

Arizona, Nevada and the desert Southwest: what the climate asks of this pool

In the desert Southwest, a pool is a cooling tool, so shade, water loss and finish fade shape the design.

Sun and dry air evaporate water quickly. Expect to top up often, and ask about a cover or a smaller surface if water cost matters to you.
Strong sun fades dark finishes and tile faster, and hard water leaves scale on tile at the waterline. Lighter finishes hide it better.
Decks can get hot enough to burn bare feet. Choose light, cool-to-touch surfaces and add shade near the steps.
Desert planting uses little water and keeps leaves out of the pool. Gravel yards still need a clear drainage plan for monsoon storms.

What this will cost: ask a local builder for a quote

We do not print a price for this design. The public ranges we checked disagree widely, and soil, access, local labor and permit rules move the real number more than any picture can.

What moves the price on this design

Size. This pool has about 130 sq ft of water surface and about 2,400 gallons. More surface means more excavation, steel, finish and equipment.
Deck. About 630 sq ft of paving is a large line item on its own. Ask for the deck priced separately so you can compare materials.
About 114 linear ft of glass fence around the deck as drawn, set by what your town's barrier code requires.
Water features (bubblers), each with its own plumbing and pump capacity.

How to get a number you can trust

Ask two or three local builders to quote the same scope in writing: the pool, the deck, the fence, the electrical, the permits and the landscaping, each on its own line. Then compare the lines, not the totals.

Share this page with them. The size, the choices and the 3D model give a builder a starting point, so the first conversation is about your yard instead of a blank sheet.

Questions to ask a builder about this design

Specific to what is in this pool. Ask them before you sign.

01How will you keep the deck and the water line cool and scale-free in full summer sun?
02Will a pool this small have room for the equipment, and can I swim in it or only soak?
03How deep is the sun shelf, and can a chair sit on it without tipping?
04What does the town's barrier code require for the glass height and the gate, and how do you clean it?
05Do the bubblers run on the main pump or their own, and can I shut them off?
06How do you keep the gravel and the planting out of the pool and the filter?