‘Recognising a need is the primary condition of design,’ said the renowned architect and designer Charles Eames. This statement is particularly pertinent if one associates design with the hospitality sector, where the ability to respond to customer needs by offering unique experiences capable of making a difference is fundamental. In this sector, swimming pools increasingly represent a fundamental design element that ennobles terraces, gardens, but also the interiors of hotels, resorts and spas. While swimming pools are an appreciated service that combines sport, relaxation and fun, they also present considerable design challenges. For this reason, it is essential to choose an experienced partner who, in synergy with the architect, knows how to design and realise pools, spas and wellness areas that will last over time and integrate perfectly with the accommodation. For years Myrtha Pools has been committed to researching and designing engineering solutions that meet the needs of designers and operators in the hospitality sector by responding to industry trends.
Among the iconic projects that Myrtha Pools has realised, Vertigo at nhow Milan is undoubtedly fascinating: thanks to cutting-edge technology, the company has succeeded in shaping the ideas of the Park Associati architecture studio, creating an incredible terrace with a 750 square metre cocktails & pool area, capable of accommodating up to 200 people, with a spectacular infinity pool, two circular pools, a solarium area, a restaurant and an exclusive rooftop bar. The cantilevered main pool is the real star of the project, thanks to a 28-metre transparent wall with a cascading edge. Designed with a double depth, the pool consists of two areas: a semi-circular one that is only 30 cm deep, perfect as a sunbathing area, and the other as a swimming area with a view of the Milan skyline, equipped with seven transparent windows at the bottom that create a sense of vertigo and suspension. The careful design that ensured the great scenic impact of the pools was accompanied by an enormous amount of structural engineering work. In fact, the pools were built with the unique modular Myrtha Pools technology, a system that guarantees lightness, flexibility and waterproofing at the same time. In rooftop installations, this system also reduces installation time and reduces the noise generated by the flow of water and bathers. An aspect often underestimated, but definitely important, especially in hotel and resort projects.
The great research that Myrtha Pools constantly develops and pursues allows the company to offer itself as an ideal partner for the realisation of every type of pool, from rooftop solutions, such as Vertigo, to lagoon pools with a breathtaking sand bottom, such as the one realised in the elegant Provençal resort Domaine du Mas de Pierre. Set in a Mediterranean garden designed by the well-known architect and landscape architect Jean Mus, a pool with a completely sand-covered bottom has been created that represents a true oasis of natural well-being. In this type of free-form swimming pool with a large beach area, ensuring perfect water circulation is as difficult as it is essential for optimum aesthetics. However, fluid dynamics (CFD) studies carried out by Myrtha and the installation of special wall inlets for water recirculation made it possible to have crystal-clear water without the limitations of bottom inlets, which would have made water recirculation difficult due to the sand on the pool floor.
Myrtha’s expertise is also perfectly suited to design pools with spa & wellness areas, as in the Wai Ariki project, a spa that draws on the values of Māori culture. The key factors that made the architects decide to rely on Myrtha Pools for this New Zealand project were first and foremost the earthquake-proof characteristics of Myrtha’s modular technology and the advantages of having only one supplier for both pools and wellness cabins. Water, nature and wellness characterise another important realisation of the company, which supported the architects in the design of the wellness centre of the Borgo Lanciano Spa Hotel, which looks out onto the unspoilt nature of the Sibillini Mountains. Steam baths, herbal saunas, salt walls and elegant stone effect pools embellish this relaxation reserve.
To further enhance the connection with the outdoors and nature, Myrtha has launched You Forest, a luxurious solution to implement the outdoor space dedicated to wellness, ideal for the hospitality and home-wellness sector.
