Blue & Green & Gold: The Colours of Summer Golden Pond

Award-Winning Landscape Features Innovative "Natural" Swimming Concept

A swim pond is one of the more directional and green outdoor recreational water features for a home, combining the idea of a swimming pool that literally cleans itself naturally with an aesthetic visual appeal.

The swim pond is so dynamic when combined with appealing landscaping that Marcus Winkler's company, SwimPond Landscape Design has won two Tommies in a row for projects in the Okanagan for Excellence in Overall Landscape Design ­ a Silver in 2006 and a Gold in 2007.

The idea is brand new in North America, though quite common in Europe, where such sustainable concepts are common place.

"It was first invented about 30 years ago for the German-speaking market in Central Europe, where there's now probably 35,000-40,000 swim ponds," says Marcus Winkler, who has exclusively brought the concept to not just the Okanagan but the whole continent.

A swim pond may be "man-made" but is ostensibly like a real pond, cleaning itself with a ground filter and a variety of aquaculture. The ratio of the swim area to the filtration area is usually 1:1, but Winkler says either area could be a little bigger or smaller ­ every pond is a little different.

"We build an ecosystem and copy Mother Nature. There's always a little natural stuff in there, biomaterial, but it's controlled."




The result is very clean water, almost algae-free, that does not have to be drained for the winter like conventional pools.

"It just makes sense to swim in chemical-free water," says Winkler. "Kids can dive with their eyes open."

The water in the swim area provides "a very nice swim experience" in the summer. The filtration area, with its plants, has the aesthetic appeal of a water garden and in spring, the lily pads come out, along with the frogs and insects (no mosquitoes).

In the fall, the swim pond provides an attractive outdoor entertainment area, surrounded by decks and patios. And because the water freezes in the winter, the pond turns into a potential skating and hockey rink.

The winning 2007 project in the Mission is definitely outstanding.

A 1903 cabin stands on the property; the owner always wanted it on a lake.

The swim pond itself is 4000 square feet, with a swimming area of 7-11 feet in depth. Twelve granite rocks of 10,000-18,000 pounds were submerged to build a seven foot underwater cliff at the main waterfall and swimming platform. A bridge crosses the swim pond to an island with three birch trees and a wooden patio. At one end of the swim pond is a small sandy beach and wharf. Other features include a putting green with a sand bunker, an entertainment area, more waterfalls and a water feature rock.

"The water in this swim pond is absolutely clean. It's 11 feet deep and you can see everything on the bottom. We haven't had to do anything to it this year because Mother Nature has been cleaning the water."

Winkler says the pond ended up going into the last part of a 1.7 acre yard. Three feet of top soil was taken away because it was infected by horse tail. It was a difficult project because they hit the high water table and spent a lot of money and many days dewatering the whole area.

The owner of this swim pond was so impressed he ordered a second project from Winkler.

The European-born Winkler's previous globe-trotting career was in computers. To de-stress, he would work with his hands creating water features for friends. He built a swim pond at his new home in Kelowna in 2001 and people said he should make it into a business ­ so he did.



The swim ponds of Markus Winkler offer natural, self-cleaning year round function and beauty. Photos: Colin Jewall, courtesy of SwimPond.

The company is currently working on new swim pond installations, including one of 20,000 square feet in Naramata; an infinity edge swim pond on Dilworth Mountain along the lake; and one of 3,000 square feet in Winfield.

"We focus on higher end projects, but also mid-range projects like at Wilden, which is smaller at 1400 square feet."

Winkler is receiving enquiries from all over the continent. One potential client from San Diego wanted to be able to "swim with the dolphins," but this was declined. "I was un
comfortable with the dolphin concept because a swim pond could never be big enough for them."

He says you could conceivably have a swim pond with fish, but it would change the concept. "Fish poop in the water and eat the plants."

Winkler would love to create an indoor-outdoor swim pond, with tropical plants inside.

SwimPond's filtration materials come from the Kootenays; the water plants are grown on Vancouver Island; and technical support comes from Europe. The company also has its own landscaping team.

Winkler is thoroughly committed to incorporating ultimate green practice into all of his developments. He would like to add rooftop water gardens, popular in Europe, to his line of products. He's also starting his first North America franchise on Vancouver Island where he grows his aquatic plants in greenhouses.

Winkler is proud he has chosen Kelowna as the founding city of his company.

"I want Kelowna to be the green city," he says.

Dona Sturmanis

Copyright © 2008 Wheat King Publishing and the authors. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied or reprinted without the written consent of the publisher. The opinions expressed in Okanagan Home are those of the writers and editors, and do not represent the official position of the Canadian Home Builders' Association, Central Okanagan, or of its members.