Client: Private

Overview

Glass art at this private swimming pool in Warsaw serves a variety of functions, from the obvious – decorative ones, to purely practical ones – acting as unique objects separating spaces for different purposes.

The swimming pool lounge with a counter-current basin and a jacuzzi is separated from the bathing area by a series of “Japanese Glass Kimonos”, creating a central fused glass composition matched with the interior.

The scale of the interior is enhanced by large-scale bent mirrors that reflect the surrounding and interior finishing elements, blurring the boundaries between real partitions, creating a magical illusion and taking residents to the world of relaxation.

Goals

The client, art collector, searched for a visual solution for the expansion of the swimming pool on the upper level of his house above the existing garage. The greatest challenge involved finding a way of dividing the recreational and functional areas, blending both spaces but also providing privacy.

Eleven unique glass art panels by ARCHIGLASS studio, referring to Japanese Kimonos, create a subtle division, refracting light and blurring direct view.

The colors of the installation are related to the water theme, connecting with the original painting by Prof. Piotr Kielan and 2:1 scale mosaics.

Process

The creative process for ARCHIGLASS studio started in the preliminary conceptual phase with the invitation from interior designer, Prof. Katarzyna Koczyńska-Kielan, to propose an artistic solution for the functional division within new swimming pool areas.

A series of sketches and water-colour drawings represented the visual concept, accepted by the client. It was followed by a 1:10 scale model, showing the size and distribution of the elements. In the construction phase a real scale temporary model was executed at site to fine-tune the final setting and heights of each object.

Created in parallel with the building, the artwork's stainless steel mounts are embedded in the horizontal slabs under the finished floor to visually limit any additional elements, providing at the same time sufficient structural strength,

Each element of the glass installation is unique, fused on hand-made molds in 850 degrees Celsius and air-brushed with metal-oxides to smoothly blend the colors of water and paintings with the interior.

The reflective pillar and mirrors follow the same principle. Slumped in the kilns, they expand visually the space, enriching unique atmosphere for leisure.