Author: Catherine Saunders

Five reasons for
having a pool

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With the good weather just around the corner, many people are asking themselves if the time has come to make their dream come true of building a pool in their homes. Whether for fun, well-being or even for financial reasons… You will find five good reasons why this is the year for you to take the plunge once and for all:

1. You will spend more time with the family

There is no denying that a pool brings a family together. Nowadays, the hectic pace of life and finding the time to relax in the company of your loved ones (without the constant interruptions of mobiles, tablets or the TV) can be difficult. A pool is ideal for family enjoyment and gives many opportunities for bonding.

2. Kids love it

Pools keep kids active. Unlike the other ways they prefer to spend their free time in front of a screen, all poolside games and adventures keep them on the move, so that they wear themselves out during the day and go to bed earlier and totally relaxed. What’s more, as lung capacity improves and the muscles responsible for breathing in and out get stronger, exercise in the water is good for children with asthma.

3. It will help you beat stress

A quiet swim at the end of the working day, dealing with stress by doing sport, a pleasant chat by the poolside, splashing your feet in the water or just looking at the completely still surface of a pool is in itself a way of relaxing. If you also add the right lighting and relaxing mineral salts, you will experience a sensational feeling of calm.

4. There is no healthier way to have fun

Whatever your age, a pool is the best place to do sport. Physical exercise in the water is extremely beneficial for the cardiovascular system and joint mobility. Swimming is a great choice for doing exercise, but it is not the only way: why not invite your friends round to do aquagym or play a game of water polo? Do sport while you improve your social life!

5. You will increase the value of your home

Do you know that in addition to health, leisure and well-being, building a pool could bring you financial advantages? A number of studies have found that having a pool significantly increases the value of a property. Although the increase can vary depending on location and climate, these studies estimate it to be between 7 and 20%.

Wood Used for
the Roof of a Pool

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The triangulated cross-laminated roof trusses in wood that can be seen in the picture make up this spectacular space designed by the London-based practice, Duggan Morris Architects, as part of the refurbishment of the swimming pool in the 1980 building, Alfriston School in Buckinghamshire.

The swimming area forms part of a complex made up of gyms, changing rooms and offices. Thanks to its shape, the persistent reverberations common to this type of complex go unheard. The final result blends in with the typical buildings with sloped roofs in the surrounding area. Respect for the local architecture, the efficient use of building materials and the beautiful composition define this intervention, which was the result of a restricted call for tender in 2008.

Each of the triangles, the largest of which is 12 x 6 meters, were built off site and then simply assembled over the pool using bespoke invisible steel plates with plugged bolts, all of which has resulted in this impeccable showpiece. The use of prefabricated modules is one of the most efficient ways of approaching construction projects and, in this case, the end result paid off as this was one of the 30 British architecture and furniture projects shortlisted for the Wood Awards 2014.

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A continuous horizontal line one metre in height is the only source of natural light in the building, which means that only the bottom half of the people walking in it can be seen. While swimmers practise their swimming techniques in this pleasant building, they are able to look outside onto a landscape that combines water and trees, which afford sufficient privacy from the surrounding neighbourhood.

This academy school teaches 120 girls with moderate learning difficulties. The pool was designed following an ongoing collaboration between the architects, the school’s management’ team, members of the parents’ association, local town authorities and the pupils.