After a video presentation of the five finalist’s designs at the International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo in New Orleans, those in attendance casted their votes to name Alex Tyler of Alchemy Exteriors the winner of the 2019 Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge and a $5,000 cash prize.
This year’s finalists, selected by a panel of judges, also included Tanr Ross of Poolscapes LLC, Carol Kahn of Exterior Designs, Lee Kind of Creative Poolscapes and Anuhya Konda, a student at the University of Oklahoma.
The Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge, created by builders Mike Farley and Reid Schindler, challenges designers to take a real-life scenario and design a luxury poolscape with a $1 million budget. This year took designers to the shores of Crystal Bay on Lake Tahoe where a couple was looking to create an outdoor oasis that complimented their industrial/rustic home. Designers worked to preserve the stunning views of the space while appealing to the client’s list of demands — a combo pool with part recreation/relaxation, a diving element, dolphin water slide, herb garden, outdoor kitchen and fire features, to name a few.
“A design competition in the pool industry is super necessary," says Tyler, who is a landscape architect. "This year, I catered more towards the pool, which helped to elevate my project."
Tyler says the connection this competition bridges between landscape architecture and pool design is very important. He will be invited to join the judges panel for the 2020 competition but, depending on next year’s jobsite, might re-enter as a designer.
