Image via Complex Original
With summer just around the corner, the heat has already kicked in, and the only place anyone really wants to be is in a swimming pool with an ice cold beer in hand. Pools come in all shapes and sizes, and whether they're at a hotel or in your backyard, many serve as feats of architecture and calculated design. So here's our round-up of some of the world's coolest swimming pools—for your viewing and daydreaming pleasure.
30 Cool Swimming Pools From Around The World
The Hemeroscopium House Pool
The Hemeroscopium House Pool
Location: Madrid, Spain
Architect: Ensamble Studio
The Hemeroscopium House itself is equally as dope as its pools. While one pool is located on the ground level, the other is actually situated on one of the house's jutting beams so that the pool is suspended a few feet above the lawn.
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The Shaw House Pool
The Shaw House Pool
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Architect: Patkau Architects
Behold Patkau Architects' brilliance. The "Shaw House" consists of a glass-bottomed swimming pool built directly above the entrance of the house to allow for more light into the home.
Meghna Mansion Pool
Meghna Mansion Pool
Location: Dhaka City, Bangladesh
Architect: Shatotto Architects
Located in one of the most densely-populated areas of Dhaka City, Bangladesh, this massive building complex is strewn and embellished with overgrown greenery. With 20,000 square feet of living space, this building known as the Meghna Mansion even features swimming pools for its residents. It was designed and completed by Shatotto Architects in 2005.
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Cape Town Spa House
Cape Town Spa House
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Architect: Metropolis Design
The Cape Town Spa House merges minimalist design with the natural landscapes of Hout Bay, a coastal suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. It sits on the mountain beside the Hout Bay, and the building is made up of varying floor planes to give guests different experiences with the water. The coolest part of the Spa House? There's an underwater spa, where you can lay back on lounge chairs and gaze into large viewing windows.
The Dream Pool
The Dream Pool
Location: San Diego, CA
Architect: San Diego Dream Pools
This "Dream Pool" is just one of the many gems created by the San Diegan architecture company. This one in particular has waterfalls, lit pocket planters, and it can be lit up at night.
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Hotel Catell dels Hams Pool
Hotel Castell dels Hams Pool
Location: Majorca, Balearic Islands
Architect: A2 Arquitectos
The Hotel Castell dells Hams opened in 1967 on the island of Majorca and until 2004 featured a dark, inefficient indoor swimming pool enclosed in a glass and aluminum shell. To combat this problem and to celebrate the Mediterranean light, A2 Arquitectos remodeled the pool, adding square windows and skylights on the walls and ceiling to create a brighter, more modern looking chill spot.
The Joule Hotel Pool
The Joule Hotel Pool
Location: Dallas
Architect: Architexas
Ten stories above Main Street in Dallas hangs Architexas' masterpiece. The Joule Hotel swimming pool extends eight feet over the building edge so swimmers can take a peep of the people and streets below.
San Alfonso del Mar
San Alfonso del Mar
Location: Algarrobo, Chile
Architect: Crystal Lagoons
Not only does San Alfonso del Mar have the world's largest swimming pool, but it's also got a pyramid-enclosed, heated pool where you can relax if you're not about the Chilean heat or outdoors life.
The Pantheon Pool
The Pantheon Pool at the Homestead Resort
Location: Midway, UT
Architect: Unknown
The Pantheon Pool is literally a hole in the earth. Swimmers and divers can soak in the 96-degree mineral-rich waters of this 55-foot high dome.
Roman Pool at Hearst Castle
Roman Pool at Hearst Castle
Location: San Simeon, CA
Architect: Roman Pool at Hearst Castle
Mimicking the baths of Ancient Rome, the Roman Pool at Hearst Castle was built from 1927 to 1934 and is adorned with eight statues of Roman heroes, gods and goddesses. Its floors and walls are also covered in mosaic tiles with patterns inspired by those of the 5th Century Mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Italy.
The Blood-Red Pool
The Blood-Red Pool
Location: Marrakesh, Morocco
Architect: Unknown
The Blood-Red Pool is situated in Marrakesh, Morocco, known as the "Red City" for its crimson-hued mud walls. A part of the Murano Oriental Resort, this pool embodies the city's moniker as it's paved with blood-red mosaic tiles.
San Alfonso del Mar Pool
San Alfonso del Mar
Location: Algarrobo, Chile
Architect: Crystal Lagoons
Behold, the world's largest and deepest swimming pool built strategically on the coast of the South Pacific Ocean at a private resort. In fact, this pool is so large that swimmers can go for a ride on a boat or kayak to travel its distance. It needs 250 million liters (that's 66 million gallons) of seawater, and it stays clean with an advanced pumping system that filters and treats the water.
Snowside Pool at The Grand Hotel Portillo
Snowside Pool at The Grand Hotel Portillo
Location: Chile
Architect: Unknown
After a day of skiing at the Grand Hotel Portillo, one of Chile's most well-known ski resorts, skiers and snowboarders can defrost in the hotel's heated, glass-enclosed swimming pool while still taking in views of the snow-capped Andes.
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Natural Pool
Natural Pool
Location: Santorini, Greece
Architect: Unknown
As if Greece's Santorini wasn't already one of the most beautiful places in the world, the Grace Santorini hotel sits atop the cliffs of the island. It features the Natural Pool, a crystal clear infinity pool with to-die-for, panoramic views of the caldera.
Likuliku Resort Pool
Likuliku Resort Pool
Location: Malolo Island, Fiji
Architect: Unknown
At the Likuliku Resort on Malolo Island, Fiji, guests can lay out on the decks or go for a dip in their own private plunge pool, where they can also enjoy a gorgeous vista of the ocean.
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Global Warming Pool
Global Warming Pool
Location: Mumbai, India
Architect: Ogilvy & Mather
Sometimes a fairly simple idea can lead to a brilliant, super dope design. In 2008, advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather decided to plop an aerial shot of the New York City on a swimming pool foor to help spread awareness of global warming.
The £200million Tropical Paradise Island Yacht Pool
The £200million Tropical Paradise Island Yacht Pool
Location: Unknown
Architect: Yacht Island Design
The £200million Tropical Paradise Island Yacht Pool is exactly what it looks and sounds like. It's a tropical paradise island atop a cruise boat and also probably something you would find inside Blue Ivy Carter's toy box. Not only does this yacht have a swimming pool, beach, spa but a volcano and waterfall too. Fancy.
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The Phosphorescent Swimming Pool
The Phosphorescent Swimming Pool
Location: Unknown
Architect: Atmosphere Piscines
Atmosphere Piscines, the designers of the Phosphorescent Pool, must get all the girls. This pool is covered in a "gel coat" or phosphorescent coating, which takes in solar energy during the day and releases it at night so that the entire surface of the pool beams. With this illuminated pool, some candles, and bottle of wine, girls'll fawn over you and how romantic you are... Kudos to Atmosphere Piscines.
Balcony Pools
Balcony Pools
Location: Mumbai, India
Architect: James Law
The Aquaria Grande towers in Mumbai, India are currently under construction, but when they're complete, they will boast one of the world's grandest architectural ventures. These residential towers, designed by cyber architect/magic man James Law, take your everyday balconies to the next level, morphing sun decks into a swimming pool.
The Bondi Icebergs Club
The Bondi Icebergs Club Pool
Location: Sydney, Australia
Architect: Unknown
Conceptualized and founded in 1929 by a group of bad ass winter swimmers, the Bondi Icebergs Club Pool, built along the Bondi Bay, has become a popular tourist spot for those who visit Sydney, Australia in the winter and spring. In the winter, the sea temperature is below freezing, and the official swimming season begins on the first Sunday in May, during which blocks of ice are thrown into the water as ritual.
Nemo 33 Pool
Nemo 33 Pool
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Architect: John Beernaerts
You don't need to head to an ocean to go scuba diving. Located in Belgium and at 113-feet deep, Nemo 33 is the world's deepest pool in the world. It even has caves divers can explore at 33-feet deep! Long-time diver John Beenaerts wanted to recreate waters of Bora Bora in the form of a pool. Thus, in 2004, Nemo 33 opened to the public.
Ubud Hanging Gardens Pool
Ubud Hanging Gardens Pool
Location: Ubud, Bali
Architect: OFTB Landscape Architecture
Elevated on wooden pillars above Ubud's rice fields, the Ubud Hanging Gardens Hotel offers travelers a two-level infinity-edge swimming pool. It overlooks the surrounding rain forest and an ancient temple nearby.
The Les Paul Pool
The Les Paul Pool
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Architect: Aqua-Tech
Someone by the name of Garry McBurney had Canadian pool builders Aqua-Tech Pools create a pool in the shape of a Les Paul guitar. Homeboy wanted his swimming pool to be a perfect replica of his face guitar. Thus, a 62-foot long pool was created.
Playboy Pool at the Palms Hotel
Playboy Pool at the Palms Hotel
Location: Las Vegas
Architect: Unknown
Of course, there's a pool bearing the Playboy bunny somewhere out there—Vegas, to be exact.
Lava Pool
Lava Pool
Location: Maderia, Portugal
Architect: Unknown
This "Lava Pool" is built into rocks peeking out of Atlantic Ocean so you can have your cake and eat it too. Chill by the poolside and wait for the tides to come crashing in.
The Raleigh Hotel Pool
The Raleigh Hotel Pool
Location: Miami
Architect: Lawrence Murray Dixon
It's been dubbed the most beautiful pool in Miami. The Raleigh Hotel pool was made famous by the fabulous swimmer and actress Esther Williams and is home to many swanky parties in Miami. Peep the Art Deco design.
Citta del Mare Hotel Village Pool
Citta del Mare Hotel Village Pool
Location: Terrasini, Italy
Architect: Unknown
There's nothing like pools on pools on pools. Citta del Mare offers guests three pools linked together with slides that face the Gulf of Castellammare. The main pool has decks and terraces where you can lay out and enjoy the view. It's also heated and features sweet water. Someone get us a ticket to Terrasini now.
Scorpion House Pool
Scorpion House Pool
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Architect: Jones Studio Inc.
Check out the swimming pool of a private resident's Scorpion House Pool. Located in Scottsdale, a.k.a. the hottest place on earth, the hemispherical pool is a pretty sweet mesh between the rustic and the modern. Surrounded by cactuses, it looks like a pretty cool place to go for a dip.
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(+) Pool
+Pool
Location: New York
Architect: Family & Playlab
With the scorching sun and humidity on top of all the people in the streets of Manhattan, NYC's summers are pretty rough. Luckily, Family & Playlab, the masterminds behind the +Pool, are attempting to build a floating pool in the East River. Made up of essentially four smaller pools, the +Pool was designed in the shape of a plus sign so that it could offer a space for children, swimmers doing laps, and people chillin' out.
The Transparent Pool
The Transparent Pool
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Architect: OFTB Landscape Architecture
If you've ever wanted others to see you swimming in your pool as freely and as gracefully as a fish, Melbourne's Transparent Pool is the one to visit. It was completed in 2009 by OFTB Landscape Architecture. Although, we hate to break it to ya, but no one really looks that great thrashing around under water—unless you're Rihanna or something.
