April 8, 2011 - The Pennsylvania-Delaware Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects featured a lecture on natural swimming pool design from James Robyn. His lecture, entitled "Growing Plants in Your Swimming Pool" was presented to a standing room only crowd.

The next day, April 9, 2011, had James at the Berkshire Botanical Garden in Massachusetts hosting a seminar for interested parties in natural swimming pool design.

Natural Look Pools vs Natural Pools

A natural looking pool can be achieved in a number of ways - but there are a common set of rules or elements that are used to accomplish the natural look.  However, a natural looking pool (like the one below), should not be confused with a Natural Swimming Pool (an NSP) - although they can be very difficult to tell apart at first glance.

A Natural Looking Pool

A Natural Swimming Pool (NSP)

Hae-Sun Robyn and Lisa Brooks are in the foreground.

The difference is that the Natural Swimming Pool (NSP) has plants growing in the water and these plants are working in a natural biological system to clarify and purify the water - no chemicals are used!

March 2011 - Greenbuilder magazine publishes an article featuring chemical free pools - pools without chlorine -  Natural Pools.  James Robyn is quoted extensively in the article. To view the article, click here.


March 4 and 5, 2011 - James Robyn lectures at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds Lawn and Garden Show on natural swimming pools. His good friend and colleague, Anthony Archer-Wills lectures on ponds and water features at the same venue.