diff --git a/spec/custom_drivers_types_spec.cr b/spec/custom_drivers_types_spec.cr
index 164fb5d..7a7f8a1 100644
--- a/spec/custom_drivers_types_spec.cr
+++ b/spec/custom_drivers_types_spec.cr
@@ -36,6 +36,15 @@ class FooValue
 end
 
 class FooDriver < DB::Driver
+  class FooConnectionBuilder < DB::ConnectionBuilder
+    def initialize(@options : DB::Connection::Options)
+    end
+
+    def build : DB::Connection
+      FooConnection.new(@options)
+    end
+  end
+
   alias Any = DB::Any | FooValue
   @@row = [] of Any
 
@@ -47,8 +56,9 @@ class FooDriver < DB::Driver
     @@row
   end
 
-  def build_connection(context : DB::ConnectionContext) : DB::Connection
-    FooConnection.new(context)
+  def connection_builder(uri : URI) : DB::ConnectionBuilder
+    params = HTTP::Params.parse(uri.query || "")
+    FooConnectionBuilder.new(connection_options(params))
   end
 
   class FooConnection < DB::Connection
@@ -99,6 +109,15 @@ class BarValue
 end
 
 class BarDriver < DB::Driver
+  class BarConnectionBuilder < DB::ConnectionBuilder
+    def initialize(@options : DB::Connection::Options)
+    end
+
+    def build : DB::Connection
+      BarConnection.new(@options)
+    end
+  end
+
   alias Any = DB::Any | BarValue
   @@row = [] of Any
 
@@ -110,8 +129,9 @@ class BarDriver < DB::Driver
     @@row
   end
 
-  def build_connection(context : DB::ConnectionContext) : DB::Connection
-    BarConnection.new(context)
+  def connection_builder(uri : URI) : DB::ConnectionBuilder
+    params = HTTP::Params.parse(uri.query || "")
+    BarConnectionBuilder.new(connection_options(params))
   end
 
   class BarConnection < DB::Connection
@@ -156,8 +176,8 @@ DB.register_driver "bar", BarDriver
 
 describe DB do
   it "should be able to register multiple drivers" do
-    DB.open("foo://host").driver.should be_a(FooDriver)
-    DB.open("bar://host").driver.should be_a(BarDriver)
+    DB.open("foo://host").checkout.should be_a(FooDriver::FooConnection)
+    DB.open("bar://host").checkout.should be_a(BarDriver::BarConnection)
   end
 
   it "Foo and Bar drivers should return fake_row" do
diff --git a/spec/db_spec.cr b/spec/db_spec.cr
index d5836c3..f67bd3d 100644
--- a/spec/db_spec.cr
+++ b/spec/db_spec.cr
@@ -9,12 +9,9 @@ describe DB do
     DB.driver_class("dummy").should eq(DummyDriver)
   end
 
-  it "should instantiate driver with connection uri" do
+  it "should create dummy connection" do
     db = DB.open "dummy://localhost:1027"
-    db.driver.should be_a(DummyDriver)
-    db.uri.scheme.should eq("dummy")
-    db.uri.host.should eq("localhost")
-    db.uri.port.should eq(1027)
+    db.checkout.should be_a(DummyDriver::DummyConnection)
   end
 
   it "should create a connection and close it" do
diff --git a/spec/dummy_driver.cr b/spec/dummy_driver.cr
index 994eeaf..85f947f 100644
--- a/spec/dummy_driver.cr
+++ b/spec/dummy_driver.cr
@@ -2,13 +2,23 @@ require "spec"
 require "../src/db"
 
 class DummyDriver < DB::Driver
-  def build_connection(context : DB::ConnectionContext) : DB::Connection
-    DummyConnection.new(context)
+  class DummyConnectionBuilder < DB::ConnectionBuilder
+    def initialize(@options : DB::Connection::Options)
+    end
+
+    def build : DB::Connection
+      DummyConnection.new(@options)
+    end
+  end
+
+  def connection_builder(uri : URI) : DB::ConnectionBuilder
+    params = HTTP::Params.parse(uri.query || "")
+    DummyConnectionBuilder.new(connection_options(params))
   end
 
   class DummyConnection < DB::Connection
-    def initialize(context)
-      super(context)
+    def initialize(options : DB::Connection::Options)
+      super(options)
       @connected = true
       @@connections ||= [] of DummyConnection
       @@connections.not_nil! << self
diff --git a/spec/http_client_pool_spec.cr b/spec/http_client_pool_spec.cr
index 2efca77..d2e74d1 100644
--- a/spec/http_client_pool_spec.cr
+++ b/spec/http_client_pool_spec.cr
@@ -22,10 +22,10 @@ describe DB::Pool do
       expected_per_connection = 5
       requests = fixed_pool_size * expected_per_connection
 
-      pool = DB::Pool.new(
+      pool = DB::Pool.new(DB::Pool::Options.new(
         initial_pool_size: fixed_pool_size,
         max_pool_size: fixed_pool_size,
-        max_idle_pool_size: fixed_pool_size) {
+        max_idle_pool_size: fixed_pool_size)) {
         HTTP::Client.new(URI.parse("http://127.0.0.1:#{address.port}/"))
       }
 
diff --git a/spec/pool_spec.cr b/spec/pool_spec.cr
index 9aed907..ddb7e07 100644
--- a/spec/pool_spec.cr
+++ b/spec/pool_spec.cr
@@ -57,15 +57,19 @@ class Closable
   end
 end
 
+private def create_pool(**options, &factory : -> T) forall T
+  DB::Pool.new(DB::Pool::Options.new(**options), &factory)
+end
+
 describe DB::Pool do
   it "should use proc to create objects" do
     block_called = 0
-    pool = DB::Pool.new(initial_pool_size: 3) { block_called += 1; Closable.new }
+    pool = create_pool(initial_pool_size: 3) { block_called += 1; Closable.new }
     block_called.should eq(3)
   end
 
   it "should get resource" do
-    pool = DB::Pool.new { Closable.new }
+    pool = create_pool { Closable.new }
     resource = pool.checkout
     resource.should be_a Closable
     resource.before_checkout_called.should be_true
@@ -73,18 +77,18 @@ describe DB::Pool do
 
   it "should be available if not checkedout" do
     resource = uninitialized Closable
-    pool = DB::Pool.new(initial_pool_size: 1) { resource = Closable.new }
+    pool = create_pool(initial_pool_size: 1) { resource = Closable.new }
     pool.is_available?(resource).should be_true
   end
 
   it "should not be available if checkedout" do
-    pool = DB::Pool.new { Closable.new }
+    pool = create_pool { Closable.new }
     resource = pool.checkout
     pool.is_available?(resource).should be_false
   end
 
   it "should be available if returned" do
-    pool = DB::Pool.new { Closable.new }
+    pool = create_pool { Closable.new }
     resource = pool.checkout
     resource.after_release_called.should be_false
     pool.release resource
@@ -93,7 +97,7 @@ describe DB::Pool do
   end
 
   it "should wait for available resource" do
-    pool = DB::Pool.new(max_pool_size: 1, initial_pool_size: 1) { Closable.new }
+    pool = create_pool(max_pool_size: 1, initial_pool_size: 1) { Closable.new }
 
     b_cnn_request = ShouldSleepingOp.new
     wait_a = WaitFor.new
@@ -121,7 +125,7 @@ describe DB::Pool do
 
   it "should create new if max was not reached" do
     block_called = 0
-    pool = DB::Pool.new(max_pool_size: 2, initial_pool_size: 1) { block_called += 1; Closable.new }
+    pool = create_pool(max_pool_size: 2, initial_pool_size: 1) { block_called += 1; Closable.new }
     block_called.should eq 1
     pool.checkout
     block_called.should eq 1
@@ -131,7 +135,7 @@ describe DB::Pool do
 
   it "should reuse returned resources" do
     all = [] of Closable
-    pool = DB::Pool.new(max_pool_size: 2, initial_pool_size: 1) { Closable.new.tap { |c| all << c } }
+    pool = create_pool(max_pool_size: 2, initial_pool_size: 1) { Closable.new.tap { |c| all << c } }
     pool.checkout
     b1 = pool.checkout
     pool.release b1
@@ -143,7 +147,7 @@ describe DB::Pool do
 
   it "should close available and total" do
     all = [] of Closable
-    pool = DB::Pool.new(max_pool_size: 2, initial_pool_size: 1) { Closable.new.tap { |c| all << c } }
+    pool = create_pool(max_pool_size: 2, initial_pool_size: 1) { Closable.new.tap { |c| all << c } }
     a = pool.checkout
     b = pool.checkout
     pool.release b
@@ -157,7 +161,7 @@ describe DB::Pool do
   end
 
   it "should timeout" do
-    pool = DB::Pool.new(max_pool_size: 1, checkout_timeout: 0.1) { Closable.new }
+    pool = create_pool(max_pool_size: 1, checkout_timeout: 0.1) { Closable.new }
     pool.checkout
     expect_raises DB::PoolTimeout do
       pool.checkout
@@ -165,7 +169,7 @@ describe DB::Pool do
   end
 
   it "should be able to release after a timeout" do
-    pool = DB::Pool.new(max_pool_size: 1, checkout_timeout: 0.1) { Closable.new }
+    pool = create_pool(max_pool_size: 1, checkout_timeout: 0.1) { Closable.new }
     a = pool.checkout
     pool.checkout rescue nil
     pool.release a
@@ -173,7 +177,7 @@ describe DB::Pool do
 
   it "should close if max idle amount is reached" do
     all = [] of Closable
-    pool = DB::Pool.new(max_pool_size: 3, max_idle_pool_size: 1) { Closable.new.tap { |c| all << c } }
+    pool = create_pool(max_pool_size: 3, max_idle_pool_size: 1) { Closable.new.tap { |c| all << c } }
     pool.checkout
     pool.checkout
     pool.checkout
@@ -191,7 +195,7 @@ describe DB::Pool do
   end
 
   it "should not return closed resources to the pool" do
-    pool = DB::Pool.new(max_pool_size: 1, max_idle_pool_size: 1) { Closable.new }
+    pool = create_pool(max_pool_size: 1, max_idle_pool_size: 1) { Closable.new }
 
     # pool size 1 should be reusing the one resource
     resource1 = pool.checkout
@@ -209,7 +213,7 @@ describe DB::Pool do
 
   it "should create resource after max_pool was reached if idle forced some close up" do
     all = [] of Closable
-    pool = DB::Pool.new(max_pool_size: 3, max_idle_pool_size: 1) { Closable.new.tap { |c| all << c } }
+    pool = create_pool(max_pool_size: 3, max_idle_pool_size: 1) { Closable.new.tap { |c| all << c } }
     pool.checkout
     pool.checkout
     pool.checkout
diff --git a/src/db.cr b/src/db.cr
index b715cfd..5dc5fff 100644
--- a/src/db.cr
+++ b/src/db.cr
@@ -152,7 +152,13 @@ module DB
   end
 
   private def self.build_database(uri : URI)
-    Database.new(build_driver(uri), uri)
+    driver = build_driver(uri)
+    params = HTTP::Params.parse(uri.query || "")
+    connection_options = driver.connection_options(params)
+    pool_options = driver.pool_options(params)
+    builder = driver.connection_builder(uri)
+    factory = ->{ builder.build }
+    Database.new(connection_options, pool_options, &factory)
   end
 
   private def self.build_connection(connection_string : String)
@@ -160,7 +166,7 @@ module DB
   end
 
   private def self.build_connection(uri : URI)
-    build_driver(uri).build_connection(SingleConnectionContext.new(uri)).as(Connection)
+    build_driver(uri).connection_builder(uri).build
   end
 
   private def self.build_driver(uri : URI)
@@ -188,6 +194,7 @@ require "./db/enumerable_concat"
 require "./db/query_methods"
 require "./db/session_methods"
 require "./db/disposable"
+require "./db/connection_builder"
 require "./db/driver"
 require "./db/statement"
 require "./db/begin_transaction"
diff --git a/src/db/connection.cr b/src/db/connection.cr
index 9108825..f38fd58 100644
--- a/src/db/connection.cr
+++ b/src/db/connection.cr
@@ -23,16 +23,28 @@ module DB
     include SessionMethods(Connection, Statement)
     include BeginTransaction
 
+    record Options,
+      # Return whether the statements should be prepared by default
+      prepared_statements : Bool = true do
+      def self.from_http_params(params : HTTP::Params, default = Options.new)
+        Options.new(
+          prepared_statements: DB.fetch_bool(params, "prepared_statements", default.prepared_statements)
+        )
+      end
+    end
+
     # :nodoc:
-    getter context
+    property context : ConnectionContext = SingleConnectionContext.default
     @statements_cache = StringKeyCache(Statement).new
     @transaction = false
-    getter? prepared_statements : Bool
     # :nodoc:
     property auto_release : Bool = true
 
-    def initialize(@context : ConnectionContext)
-      @prepared_statements = @context.prepared_statements?
+    def initialize(@options : Options)
+    end
+
+    def prepared_statements? : Bool
+      @options.prepared_statements
     end
 
     # :nodoc:
@@ -59,7 +71,7 @@ module DB
     protected def do_close
       @statements_cache.each_value &.close
       @statements_cache.clear
-      @context.discard self
+      context.discard self
     end
 
     # :nodoc:
@@ -75,7 +87,7 @@ module DB
     # managed by the database. Should be used
     # only if the connection was obtained by `Database#checkout`.
     def release
-      @context.release(self)
+      context.release(self)
     end
 
     # :nodoc:
diff --git a/src/db/connection_builder.cr b/src/db/connection_builder.cr
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c1fd70e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/db/connection_builder.cr
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+module DB
+  # A connection factory with a specific configuration.
+  #
+  # See `Driver#connection_builder`.
+  abstract class ConnectionBuilder
+    abstract def build : Connection
+  end
+end
diff --git a/src/db/connection_context.cr b/src/db/connection_context.cr
index 31e81d8..297d0cd 100644
--- a/src/db/connection_context.cr
+++ b/src/db/connection_context.cr
@@ -1,11 +1,5 @@
 module DB
   module ConnectionContext
-    # Returns the uri with the connection settings to the database
-    abstract def uri : URI
-
-    # Return whether the statements should be prepared by default
-    abstract def prepared_statements? : Bool
-
     # Indicates that the *connection* was permanently closed
     # and should not be used in the future.
     abstract def discard(connection : Connection)
@@ -19,13 +13,7 @@ module DB
   class SingleConnectionContext
     include ConnectionContext
 
-    getter uri : URI
-    getter? prepared_statements : Bool
-
-    def initialize(@uri : URI)
-      params = HTTP::Params.parse(uri.query || "")
-      @prepared_statements = DB.fetch_bool(params, "prepared_statements", true)
-    end
+    class_getter default : SingleConnectionContext = SingleConnectionContext.new
 
     def discard(connection : Connection)
     end
diff --git a/src/db/database.cr b/src/db/database.cr
index b22e381..221187e 100644
--- a/src/db/database.cr
+++ b/src/db/database.cr
@@ -10,8 +10,9 @@ module DB
   #
   # ## Database URI
   #
-  # Connection parameters are configured in a URI. The format is specified by the individual
-  # database drivers. See the [reference book](https://crystal-lang.org/reference/database/) for examples.
+  # Connection parameters are usually in a URI. The format is specified by the individual
+  # database drivers, yet there are some common properties names usually shared.
+  # See the [reference book](https://crystal-lang.org/reference/database/) for examples.
   #
   # The connection pool can be configured from URI parameters:
   #
@@ -31,36 +32,33 @@ module DB
     include SessionMethods(Database, PoolStatement)
     include ConnectionContext
 
-    # :nodoc:
-    getter driver
     # :nodoc:
     getter pool
 
-    # Returns the uri with the connection settings to the database
-    getter uri : URI
-
-    getter? prepared_statements : Bool
-
+    @connection_options : Connection::Options
     @pool : Pool(Connection)
     @setup_connection : Connection -> Nil
     @statements_cache = StringKeyCache(PoolPreparedStatement).new
 
-    # :nodoc:
-    def initialize(@driver : Driver, @uri : URI)
-      params = HTTP::Params.parse(uri.query || "")
-      @prepared_statements = DB.fetch_bool(params, "prepared_statements", true)
-      pool_options = @driver.connection_pool_options(params)
-
+    # Initialize a database with the specified options and connection factory.
+    # This covers more advanced use cases that might not be supported by an URI connection string such as tunneling connection.
+    def initialize(connection_options : Connection::Options, pool_options : Pool::Options, &factory : -> Connection)
+      @connection_options = connection_options
       @setup_connection = ->(conn : Connection) {}
       @pool = uninitialized Pool(Connection) # in order to use self in the factory proc
-      @pool = Pool.new(**pool_options) {
-        conn = @driver.build_connection(self).as(Connection)
+      @pool = Pool(Connection).new(pool_options) {
+        conn = factory.call
         conn.auto_release = false
+        conn.context = self
         @setup_connection.call conn
         conn
       }
     end
 
+    def prepared_statements? : Bool
+      @connection_options.prepared_statements
+    end
+
     # Run the specified block every time a new connection is established, yielding the new connection
     # to the block.
     #
diff --git a/src/db/driver.cr b/src/db/driver.cr
index 5df46a2..0f4d60f 100644
--- a/src/db/driver.cr
+++ b/src/db/driver.cr
@@ -1,21 +1,23 @@
 module DB
   # Database driver implementors must subclass `Driver`,
   # register with a driver_name using `DB#register_driver` and
-  # override the factory method `#build_connection`.
+  # override the factory method `#connection_builder`.
   #
   # ```
   # require "db"
   #
   # class FakeDriver < DB::Driver
-  #   def build_connection(context : DB::ConnectionContext)
-  #     FakeConnection.new context
+  #   def connection_builder(uri : URI) : Proc(DB::Connection)
+  #     params = HTTP::Params.parse(uri.query || "")
+  #     options = connection_options(params)
+  #     ->{ FakeConnection.new(options).as(DB::Connection) }
   #   end
   # end
   #
   # DB.register_driver "fake", FakeDriver
   # ```
   #
-  # Access to this fake datbase will be available with
+  # Access to this fake database will be available with
   #
   # ```
   # DB.open "fake://..." do |db|
@@ -25,18 +27,22 @@ module DB
   #
   # Refer to `Connection`, `Statement` and `ResultSet` for further
   # driver implementation instructions.
+  #
+  # Override `#connection_options` and `#pool_options` to provide custom
+  # defaults or parsing of the connection string URI.
   abstract class Driver
-    abstract def build_connection(context : ConnectionContext) : Connection
+    # Returns a new connection factory.
+    #
+    # NOTE: For implementors *uri* should be parsed once. If all the options
+    # are sound a ConnectionBuilder is returned.
+    abstract def connection_builder(uri : URI) : ConnectionBuilder
 
-    def connection_pool_options(params : HTTP::Params)
-      {
-        initial_pool_size:  params.fetch("initial_pool_size", 1).to_i,
-        max_pool_size:      params.fetch("max_pool_size", 0).to_i,
-        max_idle_pool_size: params.fetch("max_idle_pool_size", 1).to_i,
-        checkout_timeout:   params.fetch("checkout_timeout", 5.0).to_f,
-        retry_attempts:     params.fetch("retry_attempts", 1).to_i,
-        retry_delay:        params.fetch("retry_delay", 1.0).to_f,
-      }
+    def connection_options(params : HTTP::Params) : Connection::Options
+      Connection::Options.from_http_params(params)
+    end
+
+    def pool_options(params : HTTP::Params) : Pool::Options
+      Pool::Options.from_http_params(params)
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/src/db/pool.cr b/src/db/pool.cr
index f3c7a7f..5a7da49 100644
--- a/src/db/pool.cr
+++ b/src/db/pool.cr
@@ -4,6 +4,31 @@ require "./error"
 
 module DB
   class Pool(T)
+    record Options,
+      # initial number of connections in the pool
+      initial_pool_size : Int32 = 1,
+      # maximum amount of connections in the pool (Idle + InUse). 0 means no maximum.
+      max_pool_size : Int32 = 0,
+      # maximum amount of idle connections in the pool
+      max_idle_pool_size : Int32 = 1,
+      # seconds to wait before timeout while doing a checkout
+      checkout_timeout : Float64 = 5.0,
+      # maximum amount of retry attempts to reconnect to the db. See `Pool#retry`
+      retry_attempts : Int32 = 1,
+      # seconds to wait before a retry attempt
+      retry_delay : Float64 = 0.2 do
+      def self.from_http_params(params : HTTP::Params, default = Options.new)
+        Options.new(
+          initial_pool_size: params.fetch("initial_pool_size", default.initial_pool_size).to_i,
+          max_pool_size: params.fetch("max_pool_size", default.max_pool_size).to_i,
+          max_idle_pool_size: params.fetch("max_idle_pool_size", default.max_idle_pool_size).to_i,
+          checkout_timeout: params.fetch("checkout_timeout", default.checkout_timeout).to_f,
+          retry_attempts: params.fetch("retry_attempts", default.retry_attempts).to_i,
+          retry_delay: params.fetch("retry_delay", default.retry_delay).to_f,
+        )
+      end
+    end
+
     # Pool configuration
 
     # initial number of connections in the pool
@@ -37,8 +62,25 @@ module DB
     # global pool mutex
     @mutex : Mutex
 
-    def initialize(@initial_pool_size = 1, @max_pool_size = 0, @max_idle_pool_size = 1, @checkout_timeout = 5.0,
-                   @retry_attempts = 1, @retry_delay = 0.2, &@factory : -> T)
+    @[Deprecated("Use `#new` with DB::Pool::Options instead")]
+    def initialize(initial_pool_size = 1, max_pool_size = 0, max_idle_pool_size = 1, checkout_timeout = 5.0,
+                   retry_attempts = 1, retry_delay = 0.2, &factory : -> T)
+      initialize(
+        Options.new(
+          initial_pool_size: initial_pool_size, max_pool_size: max_pool_size,
+          max_idle_pool_size: max_idle_pool_size, checkout_timeout: checkout_timeout,
+          retry_attempts: retry_attempts, retry_delay: retry_delay),
+        &factory)
+    end
+
+    def initialize(pool_options : Options = Options.new, &@factory : -> T)
+      @initial_pool_size = pool_options.initial_pool_size
+      @max_pool_size = pool_options.max_pool_size
+      @max_idle_pool_size = pool_options.max_idle_pool_size
+      @checkout_timeout = pool_options.checkout_timeout
+      @retry_attempts = pool_options.retry_attempts
+      @retry_delay = pool_options.retry_delay
+
       @availability_channel = Channel(Nil).new
       @waiting_resource = 0
       @inflight = 0
diff --git a/src/spec.cr b/src/spec.cr
index c69b43c..2423f80 100644
--- a/src/spec.cr
+++ b/src/spec.cr
@@ -523,7 +523,7 @@ module DB
 
     def self.run(description = "as a db")
       ctx = self.new
-      with ctx yield
+      with ctx yield ctx
 
       describe description do
         ctx.include_shared_specs