Pool houses and pool rooms in Dubai

In many villas the only bathroom near the pool is inside the house, which means wet footprints across the floors and guests walking through the living room to change. A pool house solves that. At its simplest it is a changing room with a toilet; at its fullest it is a shaded pavilion with a shower, storage, a small kitchenette and a lounge that opens onto the water. People search for it under different names, from pool room and pool cabana to outdoor bathroom, but the purpose is the same: to make the pool and garden work on their own, without relying on the house. It suits families who use the pool every day, homes that entertain often, and gardens where the pool sits a distance from the back door.

A pool house is a small building, so most of the decisions are architectural.

• PositionClose enough to the pool to be useful, placed so it does not block light or the view from the house.
• Sun and heatWhich side faces the afternoon sun, how the roof overhangs, and how the room stays cool in summer.
• PrivacyWhere the changing room door faces, and what neighbours can see from upper floors.
• Water and drainageWhether toilets and showers are needed, and how they connect to the villa's water supply and drainage.
• VentilationDamp towels and swimwear need airflow, so windows, vents or extraction are planned from the start.
• How it looks from the gardenMaterials, roof line and lighting that match the villa, a pergola or the garden design.
• ApprovalsA new structure in the garden usually involves more approvals than landscaping alone. We handle them.

Duration depends on the work; a programme is given after the site visit.

• Size and number of roomsA single changing room is far less than a pool house with a bathroom, shower and lounge.
• Plumbing and drainageToilets and showers, and the distance to existing connections.
• Structure and roofA closed building, an open pavilion, or a mix of both.
• Finishes and joineryWall and floor finishes, sanitaryware, doors and built-in storage.
• AccessHow easily materials can reach the back of the garden.