Sunken seating areas for Dubai gardens

A sunken seating area is a lounge set into the ground, with the floor below the surrounding garden or pool deck and the seating built into its walls. Sitting lower changes how a space feels. You are enclosed on all sides, out of the breeze and partly out of view of neighbouring windows, and the garden or the pool is at eye level around you. It is a good answer for a flat villa plot that needs a focal point, and for a pool deck where you want people close to the water without being in it. At Project Majestic in Al Twar we built a sunken structure for relaxation and gatherings next to a new pool with a cascading water feature.

A sunken area is effectively a shallow pit, and most of the design work is about keeping it dry, safe and comfortable.

• DrainageRain in Dubai is rare but can be heavy, and irrigation, pool splash and cleaning water all run downhill. A sunken floor needs a drain and an outlet route, otherwise it becomes a puddle.
• Levels and what is undergroundDepth is set against existing levels, footings, the pool structure and any services below the garden.
• Retaining walls and waterproofingThe walls hold back the soil around them and should be waterproofed so moisture does not stain the seating.
• Steps and edgesComfortable steps down, a visible edge and lighting so nobody misses the drop after dark.
• Seat height and depthBuilt-in benches need the right height and depth for cushions, and backs that are comfortable to lean on.
• Shade and heatA sunken space can trap heat in summer. Shade overhead and light-coloured finishes help.
• Relation to the poolIf it sits beside the pool, the distance, wall height and any glass panel are coordinated with the pool design.

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When a sunken lounge sits beside a pool, the two share ground, levels and often a wall. Designing them together lets the excavation, structure and drainage for both be planned at once, rather than cutting into a finished deck later. It also lets us control the view. The height of the wall between the seating and the water, the coping detail and the lighting decide whether you look across the pool surface or at the side of a wall.

• Depth and footprintMore excavation and taller retaining walls.
• DrainageDistance to a suitable outlet, or whether a pump is needed.
• Built-in seating and finishes
• A fire pit or water feature in the centre
• Shade structure overhead
• Lighting and steps
• Coordination with a new or existing pool