Safety and Beauty in Residential Swimming Pool Design

Background/Purpose: Toddler drowning in residential pools is preventable by using layers of protection. Despite overwhelming evidence of effectiveness, it is difficult to convince the public and the pool industry that child safety and aesthetically pleasing designs can co-exist. Recent focus on the issue by Consumer Product Safety Commission provided an opportunity to shine attention on the compatibility of child safety and backyard aesthetics. To educate and encourage Architecture and Design Students to consider the safety of children in their future professional residence designs the Drowning Prevention Foundation, Pacific Life Foundation, California Coalition for Childhood Safety and Health held a Pool Safety Design Contest between March and June 2009.

Methods: Eight schools were eligible to compete. Students submitted designs for residential pools highlighting effective layers of safety for children and aesthetic options of importance to the designer and homeowner and complying with applicable state and local ordinances.

Results: The winning design submitted by two students from the UCLA School of Architecture received a $5,000 cash award.

Conclusion: The winning entry included a beautiful and child safe residence with pool and spa which incorporated all of the eight required safety features plus a few innovations. The design was selected for permanent installation on the schools website. The contest accomplished it's purpose; architecture and design students became aware of the need to consider child safety when designing a residence in which children would live. Child safety is now included in the curriculum in the eight participating schools of architecture and design.