Pooling resources: 4 private pools to dive for
Text by Alun Lennon
20.05.20
Compared to their back-garden predecessors, contemporary private pools are becoming architecturally integrated, space-defining elements. Come on in. The water’s great!
The roof terrace of Leopold Banchini’s Casa Do Monte, surrounded by the blue waters of the pool. Photo: Dylan Perrenoud
The roof terrace of Leopold Banchini’s Casa Do Monte, surrounded by the blue waters of the pool. Photo: Dylan Perrenoud
×In the past, imagining a private family pool may have brought to mind pictures of turquoise rectangles in back gardens. Nothing wrong with that, but, as our survey of new pools demonstrates, a contemporary private pool is likely to carry more architectural significance – a space-defining, integrated element that can be deployed as a source of natural light or a transitionary space between house and its external environment. Let's dive in!
01
Villa Molli
Milan, Italy
2019
Project by Lorenzo Guzzini Architecture
The pool in Villa Molli in the town of Sala Comacina on Lake Como is not a mere cliché, rather it has a very strong architectural and symbolic function: Here, domesticated water acts as a parapet, visually uniting the wild ‘aqua dulza’ of the lake; here there are no boundaries between the interior and the exterior landscape of the villa.
Photos: Giorgio Marafioti
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02
Casa B
San Julian, Malta
2019
Project by Architrend Architecture
The rooftop swimming pool of Architrend’s Casa B project in Malta, whose transparent floor also allows natural light to flood into the interior of the home, is surrounded by a wooden deck and offers expansive views across the city and coast.
Photos: Moreno Maggi
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03
Casa Do Monte
Lisbon, Portugal
2019
Project by Leopold Banchini Architects + Daniel Zamarbide
A single spiral staircase connects the interior of Leopold Banchini’s Casa Do Monte with its roof terrace. Surrounded by the blue waters of the pool, the white marble plane offers a panoramic view of the seemingly endless cityscape while three umbrella pines provide shade during the hot hours of the day.
Photos: Leopold Banchini Architects
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04
Mercer Island Modern
Mercer Island, Washington
2019
Project by Garret Cord Werner
The three distinct pools in Garret Cord Werner’s Mercer Island project – reflection pond, lap pool and infinity edge pool – serve different purposes. Visually, the water story is continuous, flowing from the entrance out to the world beyond, and represent the fluid soul of the home.
Photos: Benjamin Benschneider
© Architonic
