British Summer Championships highlight popularity of swimming and growth in demand for home pools

British Summer Championships highlight popularity of swimming and growth in demand for home pools

by Georgina United Kingdom , ,
  • Swimming is the UK’s most popular sport (Sport England)
  • Private swimming pool market is experiencing notable growth (Aqua Platinum)
  • Championships event designed to nurture young talent (British Summer Championships)

The 2017 British Summer Championships will take place from 25-30 July with the annual event playing an important role in encouraging the development of young swimming talent. Hosted at Ponds Forge in Sheffield, the championships are open to athletes from age 13 upwards and cover a range of individual championship and team events.

According to data from Sport England for the year ending September 2016, swimming remains the UK’s most popular sport, with 2,516,700 weekly participants over the age of 16.

“Swimming remains incredibly popular in the UK for a number of reasons. It is suitable for people of all ages, it can be enjoyed by those with health conditions that preclude them from other sports (as the weightlessness of the water reduces the impact on joints), it tones the entire body and the cardiovascular benefits are well documented.

 “This British love of swimming is leading to significant growth in the demand for private pools. One of the great things about home pools is their versatility – they can come in all shapes and sizes, they’re not just for celebrities and royalty.”

 

Aqua Platinum spokesperson

 

Luxury swimming pool design and build company Aqua Platinum is well versed when it comes to creating pools to suit all manner of homes and budgets.

Those with large enough homes can enjoy exciting features such as moveable floors, as seen at Hadley House in High Barnet, which are ideal for maximizing the use of space by allowing a pool room to serve a dual purpose. For many, a classic outdoor pool is ideal, as demonstrated at Englemere in Ascot, where bright tiling is used to beautifully define the pool area.

South Quay Plaza, at Canary Wharf, shows another side to the possibilities that indoor pools allow, with the water gently lapping at the edge of the enormous floor to ceiling windows, creating a stunning environment in which to swim.

Meanwhile, the superb basement pool and spa area at Parklands in Weybridge serves to highlight the abundance of options that come with a home pool. The main pool was the first of its kind, featuring infinity edges on 270 degrees of the pool structure, which was raised from the ground. A stealth automatic cover was built into a cave, while the design also incorporated an integrated, cascading water feature and bespoke bridge for crossing the pool. Meanwhile, the outdoor spa area, on the other side of a floor to ceiling glass wall, was designed to perfectly mirror the design of the pool. An interior fire wall completes the balance of elements perfectly.

“The pool and spa complex at Parklands highlights what can be achieved with creative and thoughtful design. Swimming is a wonderful way to keep fit and enjoy your leisure time, so why not do it in the most beautiful setting that you can imagine?”

 

Aqua Platinum spokesperson

 

For more information, call 0203 362 0442 or visit www.aquaplatinumprojects.co.uk.

2017’s greatest swimming pool and spa design trends

2017’s greatest swimming pool and spa design trends

by Georgina United Kingdom ,
  • Ultra-freeboard pools, halo lighting and clear panels all top choices (Aqua Platinum)
  • Customers becoming much more tech-savvy in their demands
  • No pool is now complete without associated wellness and vitality spa facilities

 

When your business is designing and building high end, bespoke swimming pools and spas, no two days (like no two pools) are ever the same. However, while each pool is custom-designed, the experts at Aqua Platinum have noticed a number of popular trends emerging over the past few months.

Here they share their insights into the hottest new styles for swimming pools in 2017.

“There are a number of features that we’re seeing requested more and more frequently when it comes to pools. Customers tend to build up a clear idea of what they are after, then turn to us to make it a reality. This year, ultra-freeboard pools, halo lighting and clear panels are some of the most popular choices.”

Aqua Platinum spokesperson

An ultra-freeboard pool is one where the water is just below the level of the surrounding floor. For the past few years, deck-level pools (where the water is at the same height as the floor) have been popular, but now the ultra-freeboard pool is attracting attention once again.

There are several reasons for this. For pools in apartment blocks, the ultra-freeboard design takes up less floor space and less space in the plant room (as there’s no need for a balance tank). That means that developers are left with more available floor space to use for the saleable parts of the building, which always goes down well.

When it comes to privately owned pools, it is the enhanced aesthetics of ultra-freeboard pools that is increasing their popularity. In particular, the ultra-freeboard design allows for the installation of halo lighting. This LED strip lighting is installed beneath the pool’s coping stone to provide wonderful ambient lighting. The lighting can change tone in order to suit different moods.

Another top trend at preset is large format tiles. Large format porcelain tiles can be made to look very similar to natural stone, at a relatively low cost. As such, their popularity has increased significantly of late, with owners using the large tiles to create a very natural-looking finish.

Clear acrylic and glass panels are also increasingly popular, according to the Aqua Platinum team. Many of those installing pools in their private residences are using these panels between (for example) the pool and the spa, or the pool and the leisure area. The panels separate the areas but create the impression of just one large space.

“Customers are also embracing high tech features at the moment and we’re receiving a lot of enquiries about moveable floors. These aren’t limited to indoor pools – we’re currently working on an outdoor pool with a moveable floor and Bellagio-style fountains, complete with lighting and music.”

Aqua Platinum spokesperson

Indoor personal spa facilities are the final top trend identified for 2017. Wellness and vitality is top of many customers’ agendas, with steam rooms, saunas, experience showers and Jacuzzis all popular choices. It seems that a pool alone is no longer quite enough for many customers – the exercise and lifestyle benefits of pool ownership need to be complemented by access to superb spa facilities, all of which can be accessed without leaving the house.

For more information call 0203 362 0442 or visit www.aquaplatinumprojects.co.uk.