The allure of private swimming pools

The pleasantness and passion for wellness at home has been known since antiquity, but it's only been since the late 19th century and particularly the 1920s that the private pool began to represent an intrinsic element of a home’s architecture but also of its furnishings, because of the connection between interior and exterior that it manages to create. In fact it was in the 1950s that the private swimming pool earned the rank of status symbol, often being used as a setting in films.

Considering the design of swimming pools, a key aspect from both an esthetic and functional point of view is the choice of the type of outdoor poolside paving. And in fact porcelain tiles have emerged as an ideal choice for this application because of their excellent properties. Indeed, Atlas Concorde offers Sensitech, a high-tech surface found in its collections that eliminates the micro-recesses in porcelain tiles and their roughness, providing a pleasant tactile sensation and easier cleaning and hygiene. With its R11 C non-slip coefficient for outdoor solutions, the technology ensures a wide variety of options when it comes to choosing what to install around the pool.

EMBASSY GARDENS SKY POOL, LONDON

Situated 35 meters above the ground and measuring 15 meters long, the EMBASSY GARDENS SKY POOL has become a true icon in the public’s imagination. Suspended between two buildings and completely transparent, this incredible pool offers a dizzying experience reserved exclusively for its residents. Water and sky come together in a sort of emotional evanescence. Atlas Concorde stone-effect porcelain tiles were selected to be laid on the terrace floorsthat flank the swimming pool. The soft shade of the tiles was chosen because it is in keeping with the style of the entire structure. The project also required some specific technical attention related to the possible effects of static movements and the need to not add extra weight. In fact the porcelain tiles were installed on a special elevated structure.

MYSTERIOUS BATHS OF THE FRANCO PARENTI THEATER, MILAN

Born again after several years of closure thanks to the Pier Lombardo Foundation and with public and private investment, this space with an extremely evocative name is located within the former Caimi Bathing Center, built in 1939 and created as a place for leisure. The redevelopment maintained its original function as a multipurpose space open to the public and in close architectural continuity with the theater. In fact the Mysterious Baths are always in flux, changing their appearance at different times of the day. Next to the beautiful outdoor swimming pool (which has also been turned into a nocturnal skating rink), cultural or artistic activities are staged in the solarium, not to mention shows at the Franco Parenti Theater or events for family and friends. The new name of the complex – clearly inspired by De Chirico – underscores the complex’s metamorphic nature.

PRIVATE VILLA, SANT QUIRZE DES VALLèS, BARCELONA

The outdoor swimming pool of this beautiful Spanish villa near Barcelona is the focal point of the entire project, conceived as a blue window stretching toward the sky. Extremely simple in its lines and color choices, the villa reflects a predilection for light, almost neutral, tones both indoors and out, with black being used here and there to define some architectural elements. The large windows also visually emphasize the color continuity between exterior and interior in terms of brightness and sophistication. Atlas Concorde's ivory concrete-effect porcelain tiles cover both the indoor floors and the paving outside and around the pool. And the choice of porcelain tiles with a 20 mm thickness is particularly effective in the project because of their anti-slip surface and resistance to weathering.

STAHL HOUSE, LOS ANGELES

Also known as Case Study House 22, this mansion silhouetted against the Hollywood Hills has become an icon of the city's modernist architecture thanks in part to photographer Julius Shulman's famous picture of it. Designed by architect Piere Koenig in 1959 for the Stahl family, it’s believed to be one of the most famous pool villas in the world, partly because it was used as a set for many films and commercials from the 1960s to 2000. Today it’s possible to visit it and appreciate its unique architecture that blends perfectly with the land. Built with an L-shaped floor plan, the villa overlooks the city "embracing" the spectacular swimming pool that juts out over a breathtaking panorama. With this type of design, the water becomes a vibrant spatial element that connects the interior and the surrounding landscape.

For a designer or retailer looking to design spaces where the pool is the focal point it’s important to:

- Be inspired by the ethereal appearance of water in order to recall the emotions of its color on the outdoor paving. - Consider the design of the outdoor poolside paving as a continuation of the indoor esthetic. - Focus on the tactile pleasure deriving from direct contact with the surface of the porcelain tiles.