Steps from lawn to sunken seating area

[Peanutthecat]

I've ripped out a circular swimming pool that was built into our raised deck (cats started drowning in it...), and needed to replaced it with something- decided on a sunken seating area with firepit (the pool area is 45cm below the lawn level). Going to build wodden seats with steps going up to the deck on one side, and steps opposite those to the lawn (bottom of the circle area). I'm stuck how to build the steps to the lawn though, specifically the sides as don't want earth touching wood. I was thinking of having lights place under each seat with a light in each step, so the lawn step would need to be wood, not concrete etc. Would it be simpler to just have this step to lawn as concrete and forget lighting it? Any advice please? Thanks!

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Got some photos?

 

[Peanutthecat]

The one with the pool is my garden (the pool is gone), the other pic is the kind of thing I've planned (but with the seat in 2 sections with opposing step access).

 

[Odds]

Can we assume you'll have drainage plans, too?
The weather can be wet in the UK...sometimes.

 

[Peanutthecat]

Can we assume you'll have drainage plans, too?
The weather can be wet in the UK...sometimes.

Nope, Sweden, the pool area (sans pool) has never filled with rain, so was thinking there's enough natural drainage...??

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

So the bottom of the pool is 45cm beneath the ground level? You'll need to build a circular retaining wall then. If the pool is no more then do you have a pic of the hole?

 

[Odds]

Nope, Sweden, the pool area (sans pool) has never filled with rain, so was thinking there's enough natural drainage...??

If it never rains in Uppsala then you'll be fine.

 

[Peanutthecat]

But your pool isn't sunk into the ground. So are you going to have your seating below the ground? Or are you saying you're going to build a wall around your proposed circular seating?

It's sunken by at 45cm, correct below ground

 

[Peanutthecat]

If it never rains in Uppsala then you'll be fine.

It's been without pool for ~7 years and never even puddled, do you suggest to add drainage? (Thanks for replies btw)

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

You'll need to build a circular retaining wall then. If the pool is no more then do you have a pic of the hole?

What do you plan to have on the floor?

 

[Peanutthecat]

So the bottom of the pool is 45cm beneath the ground level? You'll need to build a circular retaining wall then. If the pool is no more then do you have a pic of the hole?

apologies missed the last bit... Will take a pic when home later thanks. We have paving slabs lent up against the 45cm high exposed earth sides (to initially stop any earth slippage), next door's builder father said this should be fine- I'm guessing that's not quite right??

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Paving slabs lent on the sides does not really make a retaining wall, unless you're in an area where the earth is flint or chalk or something. But then if the pool was removed 7 years ago and the sides haven't collapsed then that would suggest the ground's pretty stable.

 

[Peanutthecat]

Paving slabs lent on the sides does not really make a retaining wall, unless you're in an area where the earth is flint or chalk or something. But then if the pool was removed 7 years ago and the sides haven't collapsed then that would suggest the ground's pretty stable.

The ground is extremely dense with a lot of rock. I'm geussing the fact that it hasn't collapsed was the reason we were told to just stick with the slabs.
I did wonder about adding a small cemented breeze-block type wall inside to stabilize, but was told no need.

 

[Peanutthecat]

What do you plan to have on the floor?

medium sized paving stones

 

[Peanutthecat]

More pics: