The arrival of summer brings to mind a single color: blue. Associated with the sky, the sea, and freshness, all these summertime images become desirable elements of this season.
Summer is blue, and so are all its elements. Trends have gradually transformed some patterns, but there's one summer space that still resists change: swimming pools.
Although water is colorless, in nature the sea takes on different shades of blue, and swimming pools attempt to replicate this effect with the use of tiles. Imagining a pool that isn't blue could provoke uncomfortable sensations: a pool in yellow or green tones could remind us of stagnant water; a black pool transports us to deep lakes where diving becomes a heroic act; alternatively, white or gray pools seem the most natural evolution of blue, becoming the most sought-after alternative in recent years; and then there are red pools.
Without a doubt, red is one of the most intriguing color palettes. It seems logical to think it's the least common color for pool tiles, a place seemingly intended for relaxation but also for leisure. Beyond the many horror movie reminiscences, there's something hypnotic about red pools, something that makes them an element that's hard to look away from. Therefore, we present a collection of four red pools to appreciate this summer.
1. Family home, Costa Brava. Ricardo Bofill
In 1973, architect Ricardo Bofill designed and built the family vacation home on the Costa Brava. According to Bofill, it was designed to break with pre-established molds and redefine the concept of family. The central element is the red pool, which culminates Bofill's visual poetry, creating a contrast with the surrounding vegetation. The architect always showed a predilection for capturing almost surreal elements that enhance the decontextualization of abandoned buildings.
Bofill Family Residential Home. By Ricardo Bofill. Via ricardobofill.com
2. Kat Von D's Victorian mansion
A red-tiled pool is, without a doubt, a different choice. It may be an aesthetic and emotional decision, but in Kat Von D's case, it also fits perfectly with her identity. The tattoo artist, famous for her gothic aesthetic, acquired an 1896 mansion in Los Angeles and renovated it to her liking, installing the iconic "blood" pool that all her fans know. In February 2022, she listed it for $15 million.
Kat Von D's Victorian mansion, Los Angeles. Photography Jim Bartsch
3. The Library Hotel, Thailand
But there's also the possibility of swimming in a red pool without having to build one to order. In Thailand, the Library Hotel offers the chance to dive into these "reddish waters." A luxury resort that took this bold approach. The hotel's oceanfront pool is an attraction in itself, and far from being associated with something sinister, it has more to do with natural elements like autumn leaves and terracotta.
The Library Hotel, Thailand. Via Booking.com
4. Residential House, India
According to ArchDaily, this 750m2 property belongs to an art collector. The residence was conceived to create a meditative space between light and color. The pool was not only an aesthetic resource. The red color evokes fire and aims to transform swimming into an art of living.
Residence design. By Spa Design. Photography by Amit Pasricha. Via ArchDaily
Swimming pools are still resisting the rapid change of other trends, and for now, red pools are in a small minority. But when will the time come to take a risk? Will we see other dominant colors among the blues of summer in the coming years?
