Tom Ralston Concrete of Santa Cruz, Calif., won the 2014 DCC “Wow!” Award for this hillside residential pool and deck project.
2014 Decorative Concrete Council Awards
The site before the pool and deck installation.
2014 Decorative Concrete Council Awards
The barren hillside is ready for a pool.
2014 Decorative Concrete Council Awards
Installing the drain system.
2014 Decorative Concrete Council Awards
Diversion pits in the foreground and background slow down-hillside water.
2014 Decorative Concrete Council Awards
Materials and fill had to be carried up- and downhill, often by tractor.
2014 Decorative Concrete Council Awards
Footing excavation.
2014 Decorative Concrete Council Awards
In the trenches.
2014 Decorative Concrete Council Awards
In the trenches.
2014 Decorative Concrete Council Awards
After the wall pour.
2014 Decorative Concrete Council Awards
Gunnite walls against the concrete walls.
2014 Decorative Concrete Council Awards
The crew pours side walls to support the deck.
2014 Decorative Concrete Council Awards
Custom lighting.
2014 Decorative Concrete Council Awards
Custom lighting.
2014 Decorative Concrete Council Awards
Bird’s eye view of the lap pool.
2014 Decorative Concrete Council Awards
Finished side steps leading to the pool.
2014 Decorative Concrete Council Awards
Finished bar, couch, fire bowl, and fire pit.
2014 Decorative Concrete Council Awards
Finished couch and fire pit.
2014 Decorative Concrete Council Awards
Simple yet elegant side stairs travel through an organic garden to access the pool deck.
2014 Decorative Concrete Council Awards
Two fire bowls with four colors of blue glass stand on top of columns at each end of the lap pool.
2014 Decorative Concrete Council Awards
Designer lights.
2014 Decorative Concrete Council Awards
With deck colors of sandstone, platinum-colored walls and columns, and classic gray caps and coping, this once-barren hillside became an elegant pool and hardscape.