The Designers
Jennifer Anderson
Director
Endless Spas
Lynnbrook, Victoria, Australia
Lachlan Shepherd
Director
Lachlan Shepherd Architects
Torquay, Victoria, Australia
Andrew Quinn
Director
A.J. Quinn Construction
Torquay, Victoria, Australia
What the judges thought: It’s unusual to see a two-spa residential installation. But considering all the clients’ needs, these were perfect – and ensured that the family would finally enjoy its backyard.
Double the fun: The clients had two big reasons for wanting dual spas. The exercise spa was for fitness and to meet the needs of certain family members — one recovering from knee reconstruction and the 10- and 17-year-old sons who wanted to play and swim. The seven-person spa was perfect for family time. The homeowners also wanted to create a space they’d actually use because, truth be told, they never went into the backyard. The home is in Torquay, the surfing capital of Australia, so it’s not surprising that the clients chose blue-colored spas to emulate the ocean nearby, and they wanted to build a modern, contemporary space featuring Merbau wood decking. The smaller family spa is set more to the right, so it’s under cover and can be used year ‘round, yet is close to the outdoor entertaining area, says Jennifer Anderson, who worked closely with the clients to ensure their spa project wishes were fulfilled.
Up for the challenge: Site access was very limited, and the builder’s main challenge was figuring out how to get the spas into the backyard. A large truck crane off-loaded them out front, and the smaller spa was manually pushed on a trailer into the backyard. A crawler crane transported the large spa, squeezing alongside the house to deposit it beside the other vessel. Meanwhile, torrential rains created so much mud the crane ran into serious trouble trying to exit. It slipped sideways, taking out some fencing and plants before becoming so mired in the mud it had to be rescued by a larger crane. All’s well that ends well: The 1,750-gallon exercise spa, with its 14 hydrotherapy jets, provides just what the homeowners desired. And the 475-gallon spa with its 51 jets, and including back jets and neck pillow, provides a soothing spa experience. The spas’ LED lighting enhances nighttime soaks.
