Roccolo’s swimming pool

The underground pavilion designed by act_romegialli in the garden of a Liberty villa in the North of Italy houses a pool that seems to recline on the curvilinear ceramic forms.

act_romegialli, Piscina del Roccolo, Alta Brianza, Italia

The client’s requirement was for a pavilion connected to the main historic house, with minimal visual interference with the surrounding parkland.

The pavilion designed by act_romegialli houses an indoor pool and some space for fitness, service and leasure in a climate controlled space.

The main house, an early 1900 liberty building had been renovated by the clients ten years ago. The main house ground floor sat 100 cm above the external ground and as such had little connection to the surrounding parkland. The client also desired a glass enclosed space attached to the main house to enjoy the view of its natural surroundings. The previous renovation of the house included landscaping and the addition of a small artificial lake in the south corner of the parkland.

On this basis the following principles were adopted to create minimal visual impact, place the pavilion volume underground. The usage of the different ground levels allows the pavilion to capture light inside thank to the windows directly connected to the outside landscape and lake.

The pavilion is located far away from the main house to create a totally new and independent space reached by a path that emphasizes the sense of privacy.

The pavilion is connected to the main house and pool via a tunnel. An irregular path was determined by the established trees, which were to be protected.

The tunnel also connects to a second small glass enclosed conservatory totally open to the surrounding parkland. A glass enclosed narrow bridge connects the conservatory to the main house.

The specific design of the structural steel was placed outside the glass perimeter. This was to give depth and emphasis to the internal volume and at the same time make the window frame design secondary. Stone footings of the conservatory on the south side of the main house enabled changes in the surrounding garden level, to give a direct connection between the garden and the internal space. The pavilion space containing the indoor pool, fitness area and small kitchen is based on a sequence of simple geometric volumes in either wood or cement to contain the various functions.

All technical requirements for ventilation, climate control, automated pool cover, etc. were designed to be as discrete as possible within the overall design.

Choice of material for the pool lining and surrounding pavement needed to be durable and, neutral in colour. It also needed to be able to cover steps, ledges and curved surfaces (pavement, walls and pool lining). The aim was to achieve a sense of continuity within the volume inside and outside the pool. A small white ceramic mosaic tile was chosen.

The choice of continuity of material creates an effect: a mass of water finds its natural resting state and settles in the lowest part of the volume, held by a dynamic and at the same time gentle form before it slowly follows its course down to quietly settle in the pool.