Want to add the beauty of a swimming pool to your backyard, but not the actual pool? Just ask French designer Mathieu Lehanneur, who has apparently perfected the art of replicating swimming pools without actually installing them.
What the heck does that mean? Just check out this article that we recently stumble across, which shows Lehanneur’s beautifully sneaky creation.
His “pool” is an art installation, currently installed at Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire Centre D’Arts et de Nature in France. Even up close, it looks incredibly like a real pool of water. It appears to have ripples, reflections and subtle differences in color. The 24-foot long pool is apparently so enticing and life-like, visitors to the art center might initially be tempted take off their shoes and soak their feet. But upon closer inspection, they’ll discover it’s not a pool at all.
That rippling, almost sea-like pool is actually one large green marble slab, which Lehanneur finished with the help of 3D software and meticulously hand-polished to look like the real thing.
The art piece was inspired by the Loire River, which flows underneath the art center. In a statement quoted by the UK’s Daily Mail, the designer explained his thought process behind the installation: “I wanted to address the garden with water as my muse. The water whose presence we sense even before we first catch sight of it below the Château, flowing uninterrupted to the sea.”
In case you’re planning a trip to Europe, the piece will be on display through November 2, 2016.
But take our word for it: as beautiful and incredible as that art installation is, if you want to add the beauty of a swimming pool to your backyard, it’s best to go with the real thing. And now that temperatures are feeling more summer-like in Central PA, it’s a great time to stop by any of our 3 locations and discover the many different options we offer, from above-ground pools to maintenance-free fiberglass and more. Our knowledgeable staff are happy to show you all of your options and help you design your dream pool.