You can retain an architect that is open to work with a landscape architect / designer. Together they should be able to design a schematic cabanas and a pool. This will allow you build all the elements that will not interfere with the future building... from hardscape, to infrastructure and flooring you want to make sure you don't corner yourself with future options.
I love working with Groundsmith collective for landscape design. Kelly Oklesson is AMAZING and knows how to collaborate with others.

Forget the architect for now. You need a landscape architect to site to grade all things on your wish list.

I don't have experience with an above-ground pool, but in your situation I would definitely look into it. That seems to make the most sense for what you want.

Otherwise, pay a flat-fee architect now to draw the plans for the pool house. You can change your mind about the aesthetic details later: for purposes of the pool design, you need the pool house footprint and utilities layouts. This is assuming an ADU is allowed in your area and the zoning/permitting scheme is not going to change soon, which the architect should know.

Not sure if you're local to the DMV, but as someone who is here and has an in-ground pool that I didn't design: I wish mine was a regular shape (square or rectangle) so I could have a built-in automatic cover on tracks or else one of those retractable glass dome covers. Either of those features would affect where your pool house sits relative to the pool. The location of your pool utilities (pump, heater, etc.) should also be placed with pool house in mind. And the pool house should have a space for storing chemicals, equipment, and toys.

Good luck, I wish I had the money and space to design like this!

There's no way you will have an inground pool this year. Not only because you don't have plans yet but most of the pool companies have a long waiting list.

An architect can help you with the placement of both; you may have to bring in a landscape architect as well so ideally you would find a firm that has both. They'll start with your plat to make sure the pool isn't anywhere near easements, underground utilities, or anything else that would impede digging it out. Depending on the size, you may need a geotechnical engineer to do soil samples to help inform the pool construction.

A small pool would be much quicker and easier to set up, but will still require upkeep -- or you could look into joining a neighborhood pool.

DH and I just bought a house with a large yard and we are planning to build a pool/guesthouse on it a few years from now. We know its general location (corner of the lot by the main house), but can’t know exactly where it will go until we hire an architect to draft plans. The issue is that we want to dig the pool *now* for our kids to enjoy while they’re young. We also want to change the landscape design pretty significantly at the same time as digging the pool since the two go hand in hand. But how can we know where to place the pool without knowing where the house will go? The pool placement is not obvious to us.

So do I go through the (long) process of finding and hiring an architect and getting initial drawings now, just so we can do the landscape design / dig the pool as soon as we can? (I know the pool will not happen in time for this summer.) Will the architect be okay with this, knowing the rest of the work will not happen for a few years?

Also, how do I find the right architect to work on a guesthouse? I know there are construction companies that specialize in ADUs (accessory dwelling units), but I don’t want someone who will take a cookie-cutter approach. I’d like a “good” architect, but don’t want to spend through the nose for a 1000 sq ft build.

Lastly, would buying a small above-ground pool solve most of my problems? I.e., we would get a pool in time for this summer, so we can work with an architect / landscape designer / etc. at our leisure. But I don’t know if an above-ground pool is more complicated than I’m assuming.