Make A Splash

Swimming pools have progressed from merely being a given in a hotel to an aesthetically pleasing, sustainable and technologically advanced space.

- Bindu Gopal Rao

Water, the elixir of life, can be therapeutic. A swim, then, is the perfect way to relax and also get that much-needed exercise. Swimming is not just a great cardio workout but also a wonderful way for friends and family to hang together. And, if the pool is in a luxury hotel, your experience is elevated to another level altogether. Hoteliers are increasingly opting for infinity pools, rooftop pools, heated pools and more to make them more attractive for guests.

Design mantra Simplicity is the key to designing a cost-effective swimming pool. “Using FRP (Fibre Reinforced Plastic) for construction is the latest trend in low-cost swimming pools. You not only save in terms of civil work but also the finishing cost is low,” explains Piyush Mehra, Principal Architect, PS Design, Mumbai. For a swimming pool, the focus is not just on the design but also its other features. Kush Kapoor, Area General Manager, Roseate Hotels & Resorts says, “Our rooftop infinity swimming pool at Roseate House has vacuum points within it so no external machine or equipment is required to clean the pool water. This system is economical as it keeps our maintenance cost low.”

For a resort property, a swimming pool is one of the major attractions. “Even though we have many beaches around, majority of the guests love to spend most of their time in and around the pool. It is their chosen place to detox. As a design element, it has to aesthetically compliment the look of the entire resort. We want people to be able to relax and lounge around, therefore the size and space needs to be kept in mind. It should be simple, yet elegant,” says Cajetan Araujo, General Manager, W Goa.

Nature inspired