No one wants a boring oval swimming pool in their backyard. Not only is it expected, it certainly won't put that one competitive enemy friend in his place. Clearly, if you want something that will really impress people, a pool tailored to your lifestyle, you need to call up Cipriano Landscape Design. Just take a look at this Violin Glass Tile swimming pool found in Bedford, NY, designed to reflect the homeowner's passion for collecting and playing violins. Not only is it stunning to look at it, the pool also won the 2013 Best Swimming Pool Design Award from the Northeast Spa and Pool Association.
This custom-built pool replicates a 1700s-era Stradivarius violin, down to all of the instrument's details and intricacies — including purflings, f-holes, a bridge, strings, a tailpiece, and a chinrest. The finish is made using 500,000 translucent glass tiles that sparkle and change colors depending on the reflecting light. "Typically gradient tile patterns transition in one direction, or possible two if they are transitioning outward from a centerline," explains Cipriano. "Unique to the violin pool, however, the tiles were blended to transition in a four-way gradient pattern."
Jet-black tiles were used to create the four violin "strings" that run down the length of the pool, which can be used as lap lanes for functionality — the strings also light up at night thanks to the 5,760 intertwined strands of fiber-optics. The company used 350 feet of fiber-optic rope lighting around the boundary of the pool, giving it some extra light and enhancing the angles of the violin.
The team didn't just stop with the client's love for music though, they also incorporated two koi ponds into the theme, standing in for the "bow" and cutting across the "neck" of the instrument. They were made using many platforms that are intended to display water irises, lily pads, and other water plants. When swimming in the pool, the koi are actually viewable under water through two transparent acrylic panels. Of course, Cipriano wanted to give the ponds some much-needed shimmer too and installed 250 fiber-optic star-lights. Additionally, that "chinrest" that you see in the photo below is actually a 12-person overflow spa, made with the same black tiles used in the pool.
Cipriano also designed the landscaping and outdoor spaces around the violin pool, giving it a backdrop of greenery, color-coordinated flowers, limestone patios with a G-clef musical symbol inlay, and eating areas.
We don't know who this mystery homeowner is, but we would love to be invited over for a dip one day.