10 fantastic swimming pools built by famous architects

A small or large pond on the territory of a private house is a great idea, especially on hot summer days. Just a couple of decades ago, a private pool was an item of unprecedented luxury. Nowadays, the middle class often affords such “water reservoirs,” because such structures provide an opportunity not only to brag to friends about their wealth and well-being, but also to spend time with health benefits. Experienced designers will give advice on how to best design a pool, where to place it, what shape, size, and depth to design.

Options and rules for arranging an indoor pool

Before constructing a reservoir, you should decide on the shape, size, and location. It is most convenient and practical to place it on the first floor of the building, in the semi-basement. It is better to foresee this at the design stage, since if the structure of an existing building is damaged, there is a danger of collapse. Unlike an outdoor pool, the water in a home pool does not need to be changed or heated frequently. For an indoor reservoir, a heated extension to the house, a separate structure, is sometimes created.

Advantages of a swimming pool in the house:

• there is no need to frequently disinfect or purify water;
• you can swim all year round;
• no winter preservation required;
• private pond - hidden from prying eyes.

Minuses:

• high humidity in the room - ventilation is needed;
• should be designed in advance;
• additional lighting costs.

Access to a room with a pond is limited to children and pets to avoid accidental drowning.

Pool Design Examples

• Sports and recreation complex with a swimming pool. The detached building has more than 300 m2. Design of a swimming pool for a country house in Chekhovsky district. The project is made in a classic style.

• Interior design in oriental and minimalist style

• The interior design of the pool room is designed in a classic style, which matches the style of the entire country house.

Outdoor pool

A summer pond will pleasantly refresh and invigorate you on a hot day. The water in an outdoor pool will have to be cleaned frequently; it will be cool most of the year. To make the surface less dirty, it is covered with a special roller shutter or solar film. For swimming in cold weather, a heated sliding pavilion made of polycarbonate is mounted above the pond. Water supply systems for open reservoirs are preserved for the winter.

Pros of an outdoor pool:

• it is possible to build after the construction of the house;
• in summer the sun perfectly warms the water surface;
• the size is limited solely by the area of ​​the local area;
• You can swim in nature and sunbathe right there.

Minuses:

• without heating, the water will be warm only on summer days;
• filters will have to be changed and disinfected frequently;
• you need to remove debris from the surface - fallen leaves, insects.

The pond is located in the warmest place in the yard, on the south side of the house. When this is not possible, it is protected from the northern winds by a high fence or fence. It is better to choose a place slightly above the general level of the site, at the maximum distance from trees and bushes - this way less dust, dry plants, etc. will get into the water.

If there are children or pets in the house, the pond is provided with fences so that no one drowns.

Embassy Gardens Legacy Buildings in London by HAL Architects

Two 10-storey buildings of the second stage of a residential complex under construction in the southern part of the English capital will be connected by a rooftop swimming pool. It will allow you to literally swim from one house to another and return back. The transparent acrylic suspended structure will cover a distance of 14 m (the total length of the pool will be 27 m) at a height of approximately 35 m from ground level. Rooftop bar and views of London landmarks included.

Pool shapes and depth

Any shape can be chosen; it should fit well with the shape of the room or summer cottage. The larger and deeper the “home sea”, the higher the costs for its construction and maintenance. If you only plan to splash and plunge, then the minimum sufficient dimensions are 3 m by 4 m, depth - up to 1.3 m. To fully swim together, you will need at least 8 m by 4.5 m, depth - from 1 .4 m. If diving is expected, especially from a stand, the depth should be increased to 1.7 m. For swimming with the whole family, make a pond 5 m by 10 m with variable depth.

The most common forms are:

• corner – most often concrete structures;
• kidney-shaped - concrete;
• round – metal, inflatable;
• oval – concrete, metal;
• in the shape of a crescent - concrete;
• rectangular, square - from various materials;
• with rounded corners - usually ready-made plastic.

Rectangular or square

“Angular” options are easy to fit into the design of a standard plot of land. The concrete and metal structure is stationary; frame models require the assembly of a base onto which a bowl made of PVC film or metal is attached.

Advantages of this form of reservoir:

• looks good almost anywhere;
• stationary is easy to build with your own hands;
• variety of manufacturing materials.

When digging a pit yourself, it is made 15-20 cm larger on each side than the future bowl.

Round and oval

Oval and round pools are made of concrete, metal, inflatable, plastic (composite, polypropylene). This “sea” looks great in the very center of a modern country garden. When placed in a house, it is also recommended to make the room under the water round in shape. If the bowl is inflatable, then it should be filled with water at least 90% - otherwise it will not expand sufficiently. To create a “permanent” concrete pond in the shape of a regular circle at your dacha, you will have to try a little. Plastic is less durable and cannot be installed in an already built room.

Unusual shapes of pools

Most often they are asymmetrical in shape - such a pool helps to create an imitation of wild nature indoors or on the site. A variety of large plants are planted on its banks; when placing a house, exotic trees are planted in flowerpots and boxes.

Depending on the hobbies and preferences of the owners, it can be in the form of:

• musical instrument - guitar, violin, piano;
• palettes with colors painted on the bottom;
• children's chubby palms, feet;
• snowman, cartoon character, fish body;
• clouds, clover leaf;
• stars, hearts, triple eight;
• L-shaped, C-shaped, S-shaped.

Overflow pools

Usually intended for public places where there are many bathers. In reservoirs of this type, the water is much cleaner than in others, due to the presence of an overflow tank. It is fed into the filter through the drain grate, due to the rise of water from the bottom layers, high-quality cleaning of the bottom is carried out, and not just the surface. A complete change is required once every three to four years, depending on the number of bathers. The water masses do not stagnate or “sour”, but the cost of construction is higher, compared to a skimmer reservoir, and more space is also required.

An approximate diagram of the arrangement of an “artificial sea” of an overflow type is shown in the picture below, where:

1. filter station;
2. disinfectant device;
3. pH level reduction station;
4. dosing station-coagulant;
5. control buttons;
6. return nozzles;
7. drain chute with ladder;
8. container for overflow.

Among other things, in pools of this type, chemicals used for cleaning and disinfection are significantly saved. Water circulation is close to the natural environment.

One pool, different depths

If there are small children or adults in the family who cannot swim, then the bottom level of the reservoir is different. The greater the maximum depth, the more you will have to spend on landscaping - first of all, digging a pit. In a shaped pool, it is easier to create separate zones with different water levels: for children – 50-100 cm, for adults – 120-170 cm. The picture below shows one of the design options for a multi-level “sea”, with buttons for controlling additional functions.

Features of a pool in the house

For a family permanently living outside the city, the option of installing a home (indoor) pool will bring many advantages:

• You can enjoy the pool all year round, regardless of the weather outside.
• The water has no contact with the external environment, does not become polluted and does not need frequent changes.
• It is possible to additionally equip a sauna or bathhouse.
• The equipment (filtering unit, pump, heating system) is installed indoors, wears out less and lasts longer.
• The choice of materials and style ideas is practically unlimited.

In a bohemian style Source zojirushi.info
A suitable place for organizing a water feature is the basement or first floor. Here it is easiest to build a technically complex object, and the costs for hydro- and thermal insulation and a ventilation system will be minimal.

Interior with stone column Source cdn.homesthetics.net

The most common is the swimming pool; it is also characterized by the largest volume, on average from 12 to 50 cubic meters of water. Next to the gym or sauna there is a medium-sized bowl, which is convenient to use for health purposes; its volume usually does not exceed 5-8 cubic meters. The most modest in size is the spa pool, in which hydromassage equipment is often installed; its volume reaches 0.5-2.5 cubic meters.

Small round pool Source st.hzcdn.com

See also: Catalog of projects of one- and two-story frame houses.

Lighting and backlighting

Lighting for outdoor pools will be required in the evening and at night, indoor pools - around the clock if there are no windows in the room. Lamps should be chosen special - for places with high humidity, halogen or LED. General illumination is preferable - on the ceiling, transparent canopy, local - the light is directed at individual architectural elements, plants on the banks. To obtain pleasant diffused lighting, all spotlights are aimed at the ceiling.

An interesting move is contour lighting - optical fiber light is mounted along the entire perimeter of the reservoir, allowing you to easily navigate in the dark. Illumination looks beautiful - it comes in color, with many different effects. With the help of specially selected computer-controlled lamps, it is possible to create a whole light show over the pool. When installing underwater lamps, you should take into account the maximum depth they were originally designed for.

Geothermal pool in Hofsos by BASALT Architects

Integration into the landscape and fantastic ocean views can be called the main distinguishing features of this pool, located right on the shore, in a small fishing village in the north of Iceland. The building's structures are made using monolithic technology. The architects also used glazing typical of industrial buildings. Matte panels allow natural light to enter but are not visible from view. But there is no external additional lighting provided here: only the starry sky and the northern lights.

© Guðmundur Benediktsson, Rafn Sigurbjörnsson

© Guðmundur Benediktsson, Rafn Sigurbjörnsson

© Guðmundur Benediktsson, Rafn Sigurbjörnsson

© Guðmundur Benediktsson, Rafn Sigurbjörnsson

Materials and finishing methods for different styles

For different styles of landscape and interior, the design of the reservoir is assumed to be different:

• for a country or rustic style, a simple square one with a wooden bathhouse on the bank lined with figured tiles is suitable;
• Classical ones are characterized by simple shapes - square, rectangle, oval. It is laid out with small tiles from the inside, the banks are also made of tiles, the canopy is often supported by columns;
• in the Art Nouveau, high-tech style, it is necessary to take care of a large amount of lighting - on the banks, under water;
• loft design involves interior decoration made of natural stone, exterior - solid wood;
• for minimalism, a round metal or concrete pool is made, with the most uniform finish;
• if an eco-style pond is located indoors, then it is equipped with panoramic windows; outdoors - with banks made of large natural pebbles. Any “irregular” form is preferred.

Kennedy City Pool in Hong Kong by Farrells

The proposed Kennedy Station was moved slightly to preserve century-old trees. But then we had to sacrifice the city swimming pool. An abandoned parking lot with a beautiful view of Victoria Harbor was chosen for the construction of a new one. The building, shaped like an armadillo with a characteristic “tail,” houses a 50-meter swimming pool and a relaxation area in the wide open part, and under an elongated triangular roof lined with zinc panels, there are two more heated pools (50 and 25 meters) and a jacuzzi. Special louvers in the roof provide a good level of natural light, and an extended side window provides views of the harbor.

Additional pool equipment

Additional equipment includes:

• single-layer, multi-layer filters for water - so that it remains clean, transparent, and does not “bloom”. Carried out at least once a day;
• disinfection equipment – ​​inhibits the proliferation of pathogenic microbes, maintaining a certain chemical composition of water. This includes: chlorine dispensers, ozonizers, ionizers, ultraviolet units;
• pumps for water supply - connected to filters. They exist with normal suction, self-priming, and are used for amusement rides and hydromassage;
• heating devices - solar collectors, heat exchangers, instantaneous water heaters;
• control units - turn on and off all available equipment, programmed manually;
• pipes, skimmers, nozzles, drains - it is impossible to equip a pool without them;
• manual and robotic vacuum cleaners – remove large debris from the water, clean the walls and bottom;
• special bedspreads - for covering during departure, at night, so that dirt does not get in, there is no excessive evaporation;
• stairs, handrails, dividing paths - ensure the safety of descent and ascent;
• lighting – light is needed for beauty, as well as for swimming in the dark;
• attractions - geysers, slides, fountains, waterfalls.

Installation of most types of equipment is very labor-intensive, so if difficulties arise, you should seek help from professionals.

Water filtration

Filters are used to mechanically purify water. To obtain a clean, transparent product, filters are used together with disinfection systems. The equipment is connected to a pump, through which water circulates. Many manufacturers sell all of the above in one kit.

To select a filter of suitable power, you should evaluate the volume of the pool - all available water must go through a full cleaning cycle 3-6 times a day, depending on the number of swimmers. A good filtration system significantly reduces the consumption of chemicals used for disinfection.

Filters come in the following types:

• sand - have a low cost, large dimensions, the quality of cleaning depends on the size of the sand fractions. Looks like a big sand barrel;
• cartridge mounted - usually cling to the edge of the structure, plunging into the water. Used for frame, inflatable, and children's ponds;
• diatoms - have the highest degree of purification; diatomaceous earth is used as a filler, which has a beneficial effect on the human body. For such a filter to work correctly, good water circulation is needed.

Aqua entertainment

If there is free space, a whole sports complex is being built on the street for children, adults - water activities, recreation, have a chance to become the main ones in it.

Most often installed:

• slides;
• towers;
• springboards;
• waterfalls;
• fountains;
• jacuzzi.

When installing a slide, bollard, or springboard more than half a meter high, the depth of the reservoir in the area of ​​this place is made 2.4-3.2 meters. If you plan to equip a tower up to five meters high, then the depth is also made at least 4.3-5.2 meters. For diving and water polo, a depth of 1.7-2.1 m is required.

A private swimming pool for diving training is made with a depth of 4.5 meters and a large area - it often contains artificial grottoes and caves. Hobbyists install a variety of equipment that can create waves on the surface and underwater currents. The surfing pond is located away from the house and outbuildings, since the wave height in it can be quite high, and the depth is also required from four meters.

We make dreams come true

A team of ZUBENKO-INTERIORS professionals offers the services of experienced designers and developers. The price of the work is fully justified by the attention to the client’s wishes and the search for all possibilities for their implementation. Many years of experience in creating and decorating interiors in Moscow allows us to develop unique projects that are distinguished by their originality and author's view.

You can order a pool design on the website.
Here you will also find a list and cost of service packages that we are ready to provide. The price depends only on the volume of work and absolutely does not affect the quality of the order. Regardless of your capabilities and budget, as a result of cooperation you will receive a first-class design project for the pool of your dreams. Yuri Zubenko

Types of pools

Classification of pools is made on various grounds.

The type of pool you choose will directly influence its design features. An outdoor pool, for example, can be easily equipped with fountains; beach furniture is perfect for the interior of a courtyard, but in closed ones it is difficult to use such decorative elements. In addition, the design of an indoor and outdoor pool will be very different, so you need to start a design project by determining the type of structure. The choice of shape and size of the pool depends on the type of reservoir and landscape features of the site.

An artificial pond of any kind should look harmonious in the interior of the room or the landscape of the garden plot. A successful design solution will increase the attractiveness and value of a residential complex and will be an excellent indicator of the social status of its owner.

You can make a wall with plants above the pool

For a more presentable look, you can use this solution

You can make a swimming pool in your home