Swimming pool and spa design - Q&A with Aqua Platinum Projects

Swimming pools and spa facilities are considered to be some of the most luxurious parts of a home, things that might make a beautiful new build property a truly exceptional one. We speak exclusively to Dominic Searle, senior consultant at specialists Aqua Platinum Projects, about the how housebuilders are using these features today and the trends that house-hunters can expect to find these days, whether buying a new home or enhancing their existing one.

Hi Dominic, please tell us a little about yourself and your company.

I have been with the company for over three years, working with the MD to build the business by targeting select clients, architects and schemes that fit with the business model and allow the company to function how it is intended to do so, always focussing on the core values of the business. The company is six years old and has always been focussed on delivering excellence in the ‘wet-leisure’ industry, designing and building the most intricate, challenging, but ultimately stunning, home and commercial spa facilities in the country.

Which housebuilders have you been working with recently and do they each have a different approach to including a pool in their spec?

 We have worked with a few housebuilders; but most of our clients are developers. From the likes of Candy and Candy to Berkeley Homes we have worked with a lot of them, always working at the very high-end of the super-prime residential and commercial sector.

Are pools still the preserve of the very high end of the property market or could we see this luxury feature moving to other homes?

Swimming pools are like any other product – cars are a good example. There is a range of models and specifications to suit budgets. Aqua Platinum (AP) focuses on the top-end of the market, as the team that has been assembled has a combined skill-set to develop new ideas and deliver the most challenging details that are only found in this niche of the market.

What kind of variety can buyers expect in pools these days?

The beauty of every project AP are involved in is that every aspect is entirely bespoke, designed in-house to meet the client brief and requirements. The list of features, finishes, shapes and sizes is endless and we are always advising on the latest innovations to swimming pool plant technology to ensure that the pool is always in the best possible condition for enjoyment.

Spas seem to be a big feature of new luxury apartment schemes – are they also popular for individual homes and is this too the preserve of very expensive homes?

In central London where most of our work is concentrated the swimming pools for domestic use are very much confined to properties that will only be attainable by the super-wealthy. A home spa is the latest must-have in a central London townhouse and this basement escape is always a key feature of these homes, setting them apart from the competition on the market.

What are the latest trends for spas?

Current trends would include the use of super-high freeboard designs for a great aesthetic and to save space in cosy plant rooms, glazing within the pool, large-format finishes in stone or porcelain and vitality features within the pool or spa. The trends though are ever-evolving and only relevant to the requirements of each individual project.

What do you know about how people use your pools/spas after they've moved into their homes?

Most of the properties we are fortunate enough to work in are not the primary residence of the owner and as such the usage of the facilities is general quite low. We have not undertaken specific research but do undertake routine maintenance for all of our clients to ensure that the facilities are in the best possible condition at all times for use when required.

Find out more at www.aquaplatinumprojects.co.uk ; 01489 896438