Nick, autor en THE COOL POOL by Astralpool Australia

Swimming Pool Art

If we were to ask a group of people to make a list of things you can find on the floor of a swimming pool, the signature of a genius such as Pablo Picasso would certainly not be among their answers. Here are five projects that fuse swimming pools and art together, including a fashion icon’s first taste of designing a swimming pool, the ingenuity of plastic architecture, the work of a New York urban artist, and some dynamic and thought-provoking geometry.

On the floor of the swimming pool at Villa El Martinete is the great stamp of none other than Pablo Picasso. The artist painted and signed the swimming pool floor in October 1961, when the luxurious Malaga mansion was owned by his friend and famous flamenco dancer Antonio Ruiz Soler.

In 2013, Karl Lagerfeld temporarily swapped fashion design for pool design. Lagerfeld designed an evocative light constellation for the floor of the Métropole Hotel swimming pool in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Furthermore, inspired by The Iliad and The Odyssey, the designer created a poolside mural of a series of glass panels with images of models in traditional Greek dress.

The Argentinean artist Leandro Erlich is the creator behind “Swimming Pool”, a work of art in the gardens of the 21st Century Museum of Art of Kanazawa, Japan. At first glance, this piece appears to be like any other pool, until looking down and seeing museum visitors walking around quite happily –and clothed– under the water.

New York artist and social activist Keith Haring painted a permanent mural with images of mermaids, fish, swimmers and dolphins at the Carmine street public pool in Greenwich Village, Manhattan. Painted by Haring in 1987, the mural was restored a decade later by the artist’s foundation, a true icon of New York street culture from the 1980s.

Architect Lee F. Mindel’s private pool at his house in North Sea, New York, features this impressive red cube, designed by American sculptor Tony Rosenthal between 1983 and 1984. The cube, which is poised on its tip, is made of aluminium and has a volume of almost 12 m³.

A Pool for Taking in the Stars

There’s no paved road to reach this gorgeous place and you also have to cross a river (only possible in summer as the bed overflows on rainy winter days). Once there, you come across a rustic property, green for most of the year, filled with olive trees and rocks, and four simple buildings that have been painstakingly redeveloped.

A couple from Lisbon bought this property which they found in ruins and were keen to recover it, including the buildings the villagers had used for their rural activity for many years. The new owners decided to maintain the original structure and turn the site into a rural accommodation project.

There are numerous similar buildings in the area, but most have been done up and converted into museums. Along the way in this delightful enterprising project, the developers were aided by architect Luís Pereira Miguel, who was able to harness the most beautiful natural state of the architectural and cultural heritage of the area and turn it into a peaceful place to wind down in.

Following the redevelopment of three separate houses and one support building, “Casas Caiadas” or ‘whitewashed houses’ has become an outstanding natural tourism establishment in the Portuguese region of Arraiolos. After the group of buildings was restored, in a project that had to be taken on in phases, a serene pool that recalls the feeling of venturing into the sea was included.

The pool was designed in a half-moon shape, without edges and with a profile that starts at ground level and drops down to one-metre-plus at the deepest end. At nightfall, the sky affords the chance to take in the stars with exceptional visibility conditions. This, together with an elegant lighting design, makes a night at “Casa Caiadas” an unforgettable experience.

The extensive heritage recovery work undertaken at “Casas Caiadas” consisted principally of conserving what already existed, starting from cleaning the whole of the property and removing dissonant elements, waste and plant life or worn out objects. In terms of materials, ones identical to the original pieces were used or recycled, as in the case of the stone masonry and the old ceramic tiles.

Sand or glass filters – which to choose for your pool

The filter is a key element for keeping pool water crystal clear at all times. Broadly speaking, the filter system is responsible for cleaning the water in the facility and returning it to the pool in a perfect condition.

Filters can operate with silica sand or glass as the filter media. When the water passes through the filter the sand grains or small glass beads placed inside it retain any impurity present in the water and leave it in tip-top condition for use.

Both sand and glass are very efficient filter systems, although there are some differences worth considering when it comes to choosing the option that’s best for your pool.

Sand is the best-known and most common filter media. It has been used for years and offers a great quality/price ratio. In general, silica sand filters will last for around 5 years. Because the sand tends to pack up, it is necessary to ensure proper maintenance and regularly check that the grains have not clogged together in order to guarantee maximum efficiency.

Glass, on the other hand, is a newer and less dense filter media than sand, meaning that approximately 15% less weight is needed to fill the filter. This weight reduction and the fact that the beads do not pack together translate into transport cost reductions and a longer filter life, up to 10 years.

Energy saving is another of the advantages of glass filters. Because the crystals don’t clog as much as sand, fewer washes are needed to keep the pool spotless, thereby consuming less water, electricity (if the facility has a heating system) and chemical products.

Got any questions about maintaining your pool? Send your query to the AstralPool team of experts today.

Pool K., a Pool with Panoramic Views in Grimbergen, Belgium

The owner of this 17th-century building had always dreamed of having a pool in his garden. Unfortunately, the size and poor orientation forced him, at first, to dismiss the idea and focus 100% on renovating his home.

However, the sale of the abandoned school on the next-door plot of land changed his plans just when work was about to start on this stately home in the Belgian town of Grimbergen.

Following the purchase of the school and the subsequent integration of the two buildings, sharing one single garden, he saw his wish come true thanks to dmvA Architecten.

The designers of the project used the roof of the old school to build the pool he so wanted on high, thus completing a project where two white blocks coexist on either side of an open green space.

Very sunny and pleasant, dmvA Architecten has achieved a hiding-place the customer can enjoy as he had always imagined. Fortunately, the solid structure of the reinforced concrete pillars and beams of the old school-building made it possible to install the pool up in the clouds.

In order to also have a clean image in the new pool, as with the design of the façade and the refurbishment of the building itself, the architects decided to cover floors, window sills, stairs and the pool body in white polyurethane. Together with the blue colour of the water, it gives a sense of peace and tranquillity.

The wonderful views of the surrounding area from this height increase the sensation of leisure and freedom. No doubt the owners are happy to end a hard day’s work with a dip on the roof of their new home.

Natural Pool for Relaxing, Healthy Bathing

Our bodies can absorb up to 500 ml of water during an hour in the pool. It is therefore essential that pool water be clean and free of all substances that can harm the body. AstralPool Australia set itself the goal of coming up with a practical solution to this problem. It has therefore created Natural Pool, a mineral-enriched salt that keeps water in top condition, as well as containing substances that are enormously beneficial for the body.

As it readily dissolves in water, Natural Pool is compatible with most salt chlorinator systems, so it will prevent the appearance of stains, and the build-up of limescale on a pool’s components and the stainless steel features. Natural Pool also saves time as, unlike chlorine treatments, salt chlorinators run automatically and only need the pH levels to be checked in order to carry out the disinfection process.

Swimming in mineral-enriched water gives bathers the feeling of mental relaxation and physical wellbeing. Thanks to the healing properties of its ingredients, Natural pools leaves the skin and hair feeling smooth, eliminates stress, relaxes the muscles and relieves tension in the body. An added advantage is that by using this natural disinfection treatment, bathers will be able to swim in a pool without worrying about the smell, stinging eyes or the itchiness associated with chlorine.

How does it work?

Firstly, the total alkalinity must be adjusted to 80 ppm and the pH to 7.4.
Then pour the content of Mineralpools around the edge of your pool while the pump and filter are running.
After adding Natural Pool, the filter must continue to run for at least 4 hours.
During the process, it is recommended that the total alkalinity and the pH level be checked and adjusted if necessary.

What will the fountains of the future be like?

The fountains sector is constantly evolving and the construction of new and stunning installations around the world demonstrates the growth in some trends, including interactivity, clean lines and the intelligent combination of music and colour. All of these characteristics form true works of art, a world away from the fussy designs that were popular in the past. We look at three projects that speak to what the fountains of the future will be like.

A fountain will soon be built in Doha that reflects the growth in interactivity and aquatic play. The installation, to be built next door to the popular tourist attraction of Souq Waqif in the Qatar capital, will have 43 vertical spouts and has been designed above all for children (although there will no doubt be more than one adult keen to take on the force of the water). Through a sophisticated lighting system, the fountain will provide music shows that marry technology with colour and sound.

The fountain is a project by AstralPool.

Parque de la Pedrera, a water and amusement park set to become the leading tourist attraction in Argentina, will be home to this fountain of pure fantasy, which will afford visitors a captivating view of water in a lake. The installation will feature ballerinas and vertical jet rapids to create an acoustic ballet the likes of which has never been seen before. As with the Doha fountain, music will play a decisive role in the Pedrera installation. The project also boasts a fountain for children’s play and some relaxing geysers in nearby lakes.

Construction on the Parque de la Pedrera fountain is under way. It is a project by AstralPool.

This fountain can be found on the outskirts of Barcelona, in the town of Viladecans. The project is distinguished by its seamless integration in the environment: an outdoor shopping mall. Thanks to a 3-cm surface flood effect and elegant combination of music, glassy jets and waterfall effects, the fountain will significantly reduce the sense of hustle and bustle that shoppers can suffer in a mall and make it the ideal place for family fun. In addition to the central piece, small supplementary fountains will be installed throughout to boost the feeling of maximum relaxation.

The fountain will open in autumn 2016 and is a project by AstralPool.

The 101 on Pool Cleaners

Swimming pools are increasingly used as recreational spaces for fun and games, where you can spend hours swimming, jumping and diving with friends and family. However, having a pool also means having to regularly clean it to ensure the comfort and well-being of users and to protect equipment from damage caused by dirt that accumulate on the pool’s bottom and sides. More than just a cosmetic issue, in order to be safe pools must be kept clean to prevent them from becoming sources of infection. Pool cleaning can be simple, quick and convenient with the right products.

Have you ever wondered which type of pool cleaner is for you? Keeping your pool clean may seem like a daunting and time-consuming task, but the wide variety of cleaning equipment available today means you can have a sparkling clean pool with minimal effort.

Cleaning a pool goes beyond simply caring for pool water: the walls and bottom must also be cleaned. While this can be accomplished with a manual pool cleaner or an automatic robot it can also be done with a built-in cleaner like Net’N’Clean, which has been available on the market for a number of years. The main advantage of this system is user convenience, as pool owners will no longer have to handle the cleaner and the unpleasant task of cleaning becomes a thing of the past.

At AstralPool, we offer an extensive range of pool cleaning systems to suit your swimming pool, your lifestyle and your budget. Here is a basic explanation of different pool cleaners to help you understand which would be the right choice for you, your pool and your budget. AstralPool offers manual cleaning materials, suction cleaners, automatic cleaners, the Net’N’Clean built-in cleaning system and a range of cleaning accessories.

Net’n’Clean is an automatic cleaning system built into the pool itself that single-handedly uses pressurised water to lift dirt from the pool bottom and stairs. The Net’n’Clean system is composed of a series of cleaning nozzles installed at the bottom of the pool that project jets of water for a programmed time and in a specific direction, thus cleaning the entire pool.

Another option is S5 suction cleaner. These cleaners rely on suction to get them moving and to allow them to vacuum the debris from the pool floor. The units are generally cheaper to install than some other cleaners and operate when the filtration system is operating. The downside of suction cleaner is that the skimmer is not doing the job it is supposed to do which is to skim the top of the water and remove debris before it drops to the floor. Water flow is obviously greater through the filtration system when nothing is connected to the skimmer and water clarity can be reduced using an automatic cleaner.

A Robotic Pool Cleaner vacuums debris directly into its own filter and is the best option when it comes to small and large debris. The inbuilt “brain” helps the cleaner to learn the shape and size of the pool ensuring it manoeuvres around the pool to check if there is any spot it may have missed.

Robotic Pool Cleaners also act as a great way to circulate the water in your pool – not only by the amount of water passing through them resulting in fine debris being collected but also because they are not connected through the skimmer box which allows the pools skimming action to take place.

Although built-in integrated cleaners automatically clean pools and use the pool’s own resources, a personal study of your pool that takes into account all factors (size, characteristics, equipment, etc.) is recommended before deciding on the best type of cleaner.

If you have any questions and want some assistance with choosing the right pool cleaner for you, contact us today – head to www.astralpool.com.au/locateadealer to find the nearest AstralPool Dealer.

Unique Pools in Hidden Spots

Would you love to swim in an ancient Roman cistern, relax in a swimming pool overlooking the Aegean Sea or take a dip under Gothic arches? Then discover these three pools which, despite being covered, are filled with light and history.

La Tor farmhouse in Montclar

In the Catalan region of Berguedà (Barcelona) we find La Tor, a charming farmhouse that offers the ideal place to unwind and enjoy fresh air and nature. Guests can discover the surrounding landscape and architecture, as well as one of the largest and most striking attractions of the remodelled XV century farmhouse, the completely hidden swimming pool.

Located in an underground room, this spectacular heated pool features Gothic arches that create a unique atmosphere that blends romance and history. The lighting provides an elegant touch of modernity, contrasting with the tradition style that dominates the room.

Katikies Hotel, Santorini

To swim in this pool you need to travel next to Oia, a picturesque village on the coast of Santorini. Despite its location in a cave (an environment commonly associated with concepts like darkness and mystery), this pool is notable for its light and serenity.

Immersed in the classic Greek combination of “white and blue”, the pool lies 100 meters above the wall of the spectacular Santorini caldera and features spectacular sea views. The cave belongs to the luxury Katikies Hotel, which boasts first-class facilities that include two swimming pools, a sundeck with a jacuzzi and various restaurants.

Domus Civita, Civita di Bagnoregio

Architect Patrizio Fradiani offers the chance to take a dip in a perfectly preserved ancient Roman cistern after his purchase and rehabilitation of Domus Civita, a fourteenth-century home built in the Italian town of Civita di Bagnoregio.

Fradiani’s remodel harmoniously combined the historic character of the house with the latest in Italian design, without neglecting the property’s greatest treasure: the access, via underground tunnels, to a volcanic rock cave that hides an over two-thousand year old water cistern. It is now possible to stay at Domus Civita, where guests can enjoy this millennia-old treasure, now converted into a relaxing heated pool.

A Contemporary Teahouse in Xuhui

In contrast to Far East buildings made from stone, wood or mud and distinguished mainly by their heavy and rotund nature, today we discover an oriental-style building which is surprising precisely because of its change of tack regarding choice of materials.

The light and play of transparencies achieved with modern materials and reflective pools at the Huaxin Business Center coexist with one of the basic principles of traditional Chinese architecture: the importance of the horizontal plane (many people will recall the large oriental loggias built on heavy platforms covered with a large floating roof).

Scenic Architecture Office designed and completed a teahouse and exhibition centre for China Fortuna Land Development and shored up this building identity: the highly landscaped raised positioning of the construction on the ground. Innovation was incorporated into the project in the choice of materials: shiny and stunning.

The building comprises four interconnected suspended modules with bridges (from which waterfalls flow) at a height that allows users to enjoy nature because the architects not only painstakingly respected the six camphor trees they found on the land but even made them part of the project.

As well as gaining height, they managed to maximise the available green space on the land and reduce the building’s impact on the tree roots. To support the entire project, they used just 10 pieces of steel and concrete which they inserted into the ground around the sole closed space on the ground floor. This is a transparent atrium that visually maximises the environment, harnesses the natural light and provides access to the first floor.

A walk through the complex of magic fountains in Astana

Magic curtains, colored lights, water that moves to the rhythm of music and that shoots up into the sky with the power of a natural geyser. Blasts of flames and amazing shafts of light. The innovative technology behind the fountains in Astana (Kazakhstan) is just one of the latest advances in the complex that staged the 2017 Expo on the future of energy. Would you like to take a walk with us to see this fountain up close?

This exhibit, devoted to the most innovative technology, attracted four million visitors who were greeted by a monumental fountain that danced to magical music designed by AstralPool. Just a few technical details will give an idea of its monumental size: a surface area of 2,630 m², a water volume of 1,618 m³, 12 kilometers of power cables and a network of 8 kilometers of piping. What’s more, its almost unlimited combinations of light and color, and a total of 200 lights can create 16 million colors!

Magical fountains designed by Astralpool

That’s not all! This magic fountain has a number of jets: vertical, dancing and rocket jets that shoot out the water an explosive 30 meters from the ground. AstralPool has even included a completely safe device able to shoot coloured flames into the air alongside the water. A unique customized set-up designed with a groundbreaking filtration, disinfection and software control system.

It is also possible to walk around the magic fountain of Astana up to a raised bridge on which the sheer power of the water can be felt and the light show seen. It will still be possible to visit the complex in 2018, when it will also stage projects for smart lighting systems, geographic information systems, and various publicly or privately funded schemes.

Would you like to discover other wonderful fountains by AstralPool? Don’t miss the next The Cool Pool post on which we discuss the latest trends in fountain design!

Author: Nick