3 approaches to design as seen by pool professionals

Structure de la page
Éditeur de texte

Design, in ordinary language, evokes aestheticism. In the language used by pool professionals, design takes on a whole new meaning : it reflects notions of experience and use, as well as integration into a landscaped environment. 4 professionals from the field share their views on their approach to aquatic design.

Piscine design approches.jpg

Design and experience

Design is esthetic. Yes, but it’s also all about experience. These two notions are indeed closely connected, according to Nicolas Tulloue, consulting architect at G4. Why? The design of aquatic facilities, or so to speak, of a pool, influences the experience the users will have. With this in mind, a pool must thus be considered and designed to produce emotions.

For Jean-Luc Calligaro, architect DPLG and co-founder of po&po, working on a pool project, is all about structuring a site so that “swimming becomes a pleasure to all members of public”. He believes that the design of a pool allows the users an experience that goes far beyond a simple swim. Indeed, it enables them to “make the most of the pleasure generated by the site, the circuit and the light, and to delight in a real experience”.

Design and use

Besides the notion of experience, the notion of use is also really important when reflecting upon the design of a pool. Nicolas Tulloue believes that “aquatic facilities only work if they are in adequation with their use”.

The design of a pool must respond to a need. That is why a private pool in a luxury hotel will not have the same design, or put otherwise, will not be conceived in the same way, as a pool for the general public. Nicolas Tulloue even speaks of the social integration of the pool into its environment.

Design and integration with the environment

As well as its social integration, the design of a pool must also respect the needs of being well-integrated into the environment, one of the main themes addressed at Piscine Global Europe 2016. Indeed, pools today must be perfectly integrated into their environments, whether we are talking of landscape or architecture or even of reglementation, in the case of a public pool.

How does one go about this? According to Coralie Esteve from Aloha Piscine, this is done by considering the project from a global point of view. The pool must not be considered as a separate element, but must be integrated into the existing landscape, which may, for example, have different levels or may be quite near or quite far from the users’ living space. Furthermore, the project must be reflected upon, taking various trades into account. Creating a pool with a pool constructor, of course, as well as a landscape architect, a carpenter and a stone mason. What we call a veritable association of skills.

Design and the Piscine Global trade fair

Finally, according to Julien Janzegers, from Aquasun Pépi-Vert, design and innovation are also indissociable. That explains one of the reasons for the huge presence of professionals at the Piscine Global trade fair: they are there to discover the latest innovations, as well as the new techniques that architects and specialized designers use, to integrate pools into their environment.

One of the major events of this trade fair, is the Pool Vision contest, whose precise aim is to highlight the creativity of the architects as well as innovation, in terms of design. Discover the 2016 winners here.

Paragraphes
Éditeur de texte

in partnership with