Sustainability-proof diving: the new eco-sensitive and hi-tech pools
They dialogue with the landscape, consume fewer resources and are controlled from a smartphone. An evolving sector in which Italia plays a leading role, from private villas to Olympic facilities.
by Editors
In the increasingly long and torrid summers of the Mediterranean, the swimming pool is changing meaning. It is no longer just a postcard luxury or a scenic resort element. It has become an extension of the home, a space that accompanies the hottest days and redefines the way of experiencing the outdoors. Whether it overlooks the rows of a country estate, the profile of a lake or the garden of an urban villa, today water has fully entered the design of contemporary living. More than places dedicated to swimming, the new swimming pools are environments to be lived in: spaces of quiet, sociability and well-being, designed to dialogue with the landscape and amplify the perception of space.
The change tells a lot about our time. After years in which the pleasure of leisure time seemed to coincide mainly with travelling, the focus has returned to the home. The swimming pool fits perfectly into this transformation, alongside gardens designed as outdoor rooms and private wellness areas. The language of architecture has also changed. Clean lines, overflow edges, natural materials and an increasing integration with the surroundings replace the spectacular effect. Technology is also making this evolution possible: today, filtration, temperature, lighting and water quality can be managed remotely via home automation systems, transforming the pool into a connected and intelligent environment.
Behind many of these innovations lies an Italian industrial history little known to the general public. In Castiglione delle Stiviere, Mantua, Piscine Castiglione celebrates 65 years of activity this year. Founded in 1961 in the world of private swimming pools, the company has over time developed Myrtha technology, which has become an international benchmark for sports facilities. Pools built with this technology have hosted six editions of the Olympic Games and more than 190 world records. A heritage of research that has not remained confined to competitions: many of the solutions developed for public facilities have gradually made their way into private homes as well, making swimming pools more efficient, durable and sustainable.
Sustainability, after all, is one of the main drivers of development in the industry. It is not just a question of reducing water consumption, but of optimising filtration, energy consumption and maintenance. A challenge that involves manufacturers and designers and that is helping to redefine the very concept of the pool. The group's economic results confirm this development: the last financial year closed with a turnover of more than €152 million, up 8.8%, and a profit of more than €8.5 million (+27.5%).
Because, after all, the fascination of the pool does not depend solely on the technology that governs it or the records set in its lanes. It is linked to a much simpler feeling: that of finding a place, comfortable and private, where one can slow down. In an increasingly fast-paced summer, true luxury could be just that.
