From the rugged hillsides of Mexico to the historic streets of Bath, extraordinary swimming pools are transforming landscapes and redefining architectural design. These aquatic masterpieces, featured in Naina Gupta's book "Extraordinary Pools," showcase how water can become a central element in both private homes and public venues, blending functionality with artistic vision.
Casa Monterrey: A Concrete Oasis in Mexico
Nestled within the Cumbres de Monterrey National Park in northern Mexico, Casa Monterrey is a three-storey concrete residential project built into a hillside. Completed in 2011 by self-taught Japanese architect Tadao Ando, who originally trained as a boxer, this family home spans a 1,500 square-metre plot. The design incorporates two distinct bodies of water: a shallow, pebble-bottomed reflecting pool in a triangular courtyard on the lower ground floor, and an infinity pool framed with greyish square tiles that offers spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.
Thermae Bath Spa: A Modern Take on Ancient Springs
In Bath, England, the Thermae Bath Spa stands as a testament to innovative design by the late architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, known for London's Waterloo International railway station. Winning a global architectural competition in 1997, the building is a solid cube sandwiched between two baths—one on the lower ground and another on the roof—surrounded by glass. Fed by natural springs that are cooled and filtered for bathing, the rooftop pool provides some of the best views of the city skyline, with two-hour sessions starting from £42.50.
The Silo Hotel: An Aquarium-Like Pool in Cape Town
Perched above the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town, South Africa, The Silo Hotel, designed by Thomas Heatherwick, occupies a refurbished grain silo building from 1924. Its roof terrace features a swimming pool framed by concrete, partially detailed to resemble an aquarium, displaying swimmers in profile against expansive views of the city, Table Mountain, Lion's Head, and Robben Island in the distance.
Bofill House: A Red-Tiled Focal Point in Spain
In Mont-ras, Girona, Spain, Catalan architect Ricardo Bofill built a summer house for his parents in 1973. The swimming pool acts as the focal point, with its red porcelain tiles bleeding onto the deck on three sides as an articulated edge to meet the terrace, creating a seamless blend of water and landscape.
Villa Capeillères: A Tiled Canvas on the Côte d'Azur
On the Côte d'Azur in France, Alain Capeillères, a lesser-known architect, designed this pool for his wife, Lucie, in the 1970s. Visible on Google Maps, the pool's white decking covers a substantial area that stands out from the natural vegetation. Capeillères used approximately 128,000 tiles, each measuring 15cm x 15cm, creating a grid that acts as a canvas for sharp shadows and lounging brown bodies. The 25-metre pool is equipped with a recessed diving platform.
This article is based on an edited extract from "Extraordinary Pools" by Naina Gupta, published by Batsford Books for £25, highlighting how these pools merge art, architecture, and nature in breathtaking ways.
