The Evolution of Resort Design Trends

Design Resources

The Evolution of Resort Design Trends

share

In the pursuit of luxury, resort designs provide an intricate blend of art, science, and splendor. As a haven of relaxation, resorts have developed significantly over the years which we can pinpoint by the change in consumer preferences, architectural innovations, and environmental consciousness. Join us as we delve into the journey of trends and design in the ever-evolving landscape of the aquatic world.

Focusing On Sustainability

In years past, many resort designs prioritized extravagance, opulence, and a “more is definitely better” mentality. However, the travelers in our current decade are much more environmentally conscious than their predecessors, desiring escape from their ordinary life without compromising their views on the world. Those who specialize in resort design now work to incorporate sustainable practices and materials into their finished projects.

This includes features like energy-efficient lighting, renewable energy sources, eco-friendly building materials, and water conservation measures. Architects and contractors alike understand that balance between the design and the existing landscape are crucial for not only aesthetics but as an ethical responsibility. 

Integrating with Nature  

A large change in consumer behavior is how individuals are seeking resorts that blend together design with the natural environment and surroundings. This shift has allowed architects to craft designs that honor the landscape and natural elements already present.

With this integration, spaces involve the use of open-air structures, locally sourced materials, and minimalistic design elements to let nature take the spotlight. Integrating layout with nature also includes considering the resort’s footprint on the environment and creating a design that lives in harmony and flows seamlessly rather than dominating the surrounding landscape. 

Wellness and Spa Retreats

With wellness tourism on the rise, resorts are focusing on trends reflecting this shift in preferences. Architects and designers are prioritizing the integration of spa and wellness materials and facilities in resorts to create a peaceful sanctuary of rejuvenation and relaxation. 

While resorts made strides in the past to incorporate these features, the present day tourist industry has held a heavy hand on this change. These spaces typically feature meditation pavilions, high-end spa facilities, and tranquil gardens or bodies of water. Resorts looking to incorporate more health and wellness may seek our architects with expertise in designing spaces that promote physical and mental health.

Personalized Experiences

Resorts are drifting away from their one-size-fits-all approach and wholeheartedly embracing personalization to create a unique user experience. Spaces to include personalized touches in resorts include room layout, private plunge pools, and in-room amenities. 

And with dining, culture, and traditions, resorts have shifted their priorities once more. While focusing on a large dining facility for everyone to enjoy at once was pivotal for many resort owners, now designers are focusing on authentic encounters through cultural centers, outdoor gathering spaces, and more intimate dining areas.

Technological Advancements

An emerging contemporary trend is incorporating technology into multiple facets of a guest’s experience during their stay. Designers are now integrating small technology for convenience and security by including energy-efficient climate control systems in rooms, keyless entry, and automated lighting and entertainment systems. 

Some advanced designs may even incorporate sustainable technology including rainwater harvesting and solar power generation to reduce their environmental impact. 

Summary

How resort design trends have changed over the years is directly correlated to the changing tastes of travelers and adventures. As the resort industry continues to change and grow, designers and architects will play a centralized role in shaping the future of where luxury meets consciousness and experiences. 

share

More Articles

Best Practices of Municipal Pool Facilities

ADI Insights

Best Practices of Municipal Pool Facilities

share

Offering residents a place to cool off, stay healthy, and build social connections? May we suggest a municipal swimming pool! These vital hubs of community life are not just places to swim; they’re known as architectural marvels which require careful design, planning, and management. 

Let’s explore the best practices for these facilities and focus on how the right design can shape your space’s success and longevity as a community asset.

Community Engagement and Assessment

Setting the foundation for a successful municipal pool facility starts with our team assessing the community engagement. Our team collaborates closely with the local community to understand their preferences, needs, and expectations with this new feature. A sophisticated approach involves us conducting surveys, hosting meetings, and gathering the valued input from stakeholders and investors. 

Our initial front-end work ensures your design aligns with the community’s goals, values, and addresses issues including family-friendly amenities, programming diversity, and full accessibility.

Alberca Olímpica ubicada en Campus Náinari.

Inclusive and Accessible

We understand that municipal pool facilities need to be in compliance with the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to cater to the wide range of community members who will use it. By incorporating universal design principles, we can ensure the facility is welcoming to all including those with disabilities, elderly, and other unique needs

These considerations include accessible paths, ramps, and lifts for entry into the pool. Other features like zero-entry pools, splash pads, and adaptive equipment means more can enjoy these communal spaces.

Safety Infrastructure

Designing with safety in mind is paramount for all our projects, and municipal pools are no expectation to the rule. Advanced features including high-quality surveillance systems and emergency response protocols can be incorporated into the design, but others to consider include lifeguard stations (if applicable), appropriate signage, and clear visibility of the entire area.

Beyond what you can see, our team thinks of factors like water quality, filtration and sanitation systems to ensure the health of pool users. 

Using the Space Available

A precious commodity in the aquatics world is space – especially for municipal pool facilities. Our team knows how to maximize the space available to create versatile areas to accommodate activities including lap swimming, recreational play, and water aerobics. To create a functional design and layout, our approach involves the careful placement of amenities including restrooms, locker rooms, changing areas, and concession areas that optimize the flow of bodies while minimizing congestion.

Civic Plaza

Efficient and Sustainable

In today’s world, sustainable design practices are not just trends: they’re necessities. Together, we prioritize energy-efficiency whether it’s through lighting, heating, or cooling systems to reduce operational costs and environmental impact – saving you money in the long run. We also consider environmentally friendly materials including low-impact building materials and pool water treatment systems to minimize chemical usage.

Community, Aesthetics, and Bringing it All Together

While it’s not just about looks (come on, don’t be shallow), aesthetics play a significant role in the design of municipal pools as these facilities often stand out as community landmarks. At ADI, we create designs that reflect the unique characteristics and identity of the local community and involve incorporating local art, landscape, and architectural elements as much as we’re able to. 

Summary

We believe that municipal pool facilities are more than just places to swim – they become community treasures and enrich the lives of residents. If you and your local community are ready to take the leap to install facilities that fit your area, let’s talk more about how we can breathe life into your vision. Contact us today.

share

More Articles

Understanding the Architect’s Role in Swimming Pool Design

Design Resources

Understanding the Architect’s Role in Swimming Pool Design

share

Detailed pool designs, water features, and outdoor aquatic areas have long been held as symbols of luxury, leisure, and architectural elegance. With serene blue waters nestled in lush landscapes to elevate an already beautiful landscape with water features, creating a haven of relaxation and recreation is our specialty. 

But the creation of a functional aquatic zone isn’t as easy as digging a hole in the ground and filling it up with water. It requires a firm understanding of design principles, functionality, and aesthetics, making the role of our design team indispensable throughout the process. In fact, our team work closely with each client to decide on the overall design of development documents, layout, goals, etc. We act on our client’s behalf to ensure the contractor builds and installs exactly what was designed originally. 

Here we’ll dive into the intricate world of design, focusing on the critical role architects play in crafting their water oasis. While we’re not the builders or construction guys, our design engineering is truly the foundation of a successful project!

Vision Vs. Reality

To put it simply, our design team are the visionaries behind every swimming pool design. We start off by listening to the desires and preferences of our clients and learn what their overarching goal for their project is. These first steps in our initial consultation will continue to shape the design philosophy and ideas that will guide the project from start to finish.

At ADI, we understand that your design is not a standalone feature but an integral part of the overall landscape and vision you hold. We’ll consider factors including the property’s topography, existing structures, and environmental conditions to integrate your aquatic idea into its surroundings. All our decisions, from the shape and size to the materials and color palette, must coordinate with the existing landscape, architecture, and natural elements.

The Balance of Functionality and Beauty

A true defining characteristic of a skilled architect is their ability to find a balance between aesthetics and function. After all, who wants a water feature or a municipal pool that isn’t functional and safe? 

Our team focuses on carefully choosing materials to enhance appearances while ensuring durability and ease of maintenance for the client. We explore multiple design elements such as lighting, landscaping, and water features to create a visually appealing ambiance. But it’s not just that, we consider depth, circulation, and filtration systems to guarantee an overall enjoyable experience.

Considering Environmental Sustainability

As we work to preserve our world and focus on sustainable solutions, our paramount concern is creating not only beautiful spaces but also introducing the latest trends and technologies for eco-friendly designs.

Together with our client, we’ll explore options such as energy-efficient pumps, variable media filtration methods, and dissolved oxygen systems in concert with eco-friendly chemicals to minimize the environmental impact. Our crew will consider the water source and drainage solutions to reduce water waste and align our designs with sustainable principles. We want to leave your property and environment better than we found it, and we know we can!

Navigating Requirements (so you don’t have to)

While focusing on function and aesthetics is a large part of our job, we also are heavily involved in navigating a labyrinth of regulations, permits, and paperwork. Our designers play a crucial role in making sure your project adheres to local building codes and safety regulations. 

Together, we work closely with regulatory bodies to get the correct permit and approvals. We’ll assist with preparing documentation required for construction bids and oversee project steps to ensure it stays true to the previously approved design.

Summary

At ADI, we like to think of ourselves as the linchpin to transform visions into a gorgeous reality. Our role extends far beyond just “drawing up something nice” and advances into advancers of functionality, sustainability, and safety. 

Curious how we can create some architectural brilliance for you? Dive into our design process and contact ADI today.

share

More Articles

Pool Construction Phases

ADI Insights

Pool Construction Phases

share

Exploring the Phases of Pool Construction

The design of a pool can be a lengthy process. When every detail is perfect and you’ve approved the final design, the construction process can begin. The construction may take several months, depending on the scale of the project, its features, and any unexpected challenges that may arise. However, the construction of every pool will follow the same general process.

Excavation

The first step in the process is the excavation of the site (for those pools not on structure). The engineer will plan the excavation to suit the soil conditions. In some cases, the floor of the site may need to be excavated beyond the planned depth of the pool in order to account for settling and expansion. If this occurs, the floor will be filled with the ideal type of soil and compacted. In extreme circumstances anyone, or combination of, helical piers, piles and grade beams may be required.

Structural Steel Grid

A structural steel grid is then assembled onsite. The steel reinforcement lends greater strength to the pool. Since the steel “cage” is custom-built at the site, the engineer can adapt to the unique shape of the pool, if applicable.

Plumbing

Once the steel grid is in place, the plumbing technicians can get to work. Trenches will need to be excavated and shaded with sifted fill to house the pipes. The plumbing trades ensure that the correct size and type of pipes are used in accordance with the aquatic consultant’s design ensuring no water velocity exceed 8 fps on the suction-side of the system and 6 fps on the pressure-side.

Electrical

Parts of the electrical phase may actually be interwoven throughout other phases, depending on the demands of the particular project. An electrical engineer will ensure that all electrical components are safely wired according to code. All circuits will be bonded to an equipotential bonding grid for extra protection and in accordance with the National Electric Code.

Concrete or Shotcrete

The next phase of pool construction may involve the use of poured concrete, shotcrete, or gunite. Concrete that is poured in place requires the placement of forms to enable the concrete to maintain the desired shape while it hardens and cures. Shotcrete also uses concrete, but the application method is different. It involves spraying a wet-mix concrete out of a pneumatic hose. Gunite is applied in a similar fashion but as a dry-mix that is mixed with water at the nozzle. Gunite is typically recommended in lieu of shotcrete if the batch plant is located more than a 45-minute drive from the job site. For best results, it’s important to have an American Concrete Institute (ACI) Certified Nozzleman present for the shotcrete phase as well as an inspector monitoring the vertical placement of the concrete.

When you partner with Aqua Design International to build your world-class pool, you will be fully informed of each phase of the process. Our team is comprised of expert aquatic designers carrying professional registrations who understand the intricacies of designing and building a pool on-time and within budget. If you have any questions about the construction of your pool, you can reach us at our corporate headquarters in Tucson at (520) 219 8929.

share

More Articles

Cost Projections

ADI Insights

Cost Projections

share


What to Know About Project Cost Projections

Designing and constructing a world-class pool or water feature is a major undertaking. One of the first things an owner will want to know is what the project will cost so they can solicit sufficient financing for design and construction. However, a projected cost cannot be developed until the details of the project are hammered out. The owners and/or owner’s representatives may wish to inform the aquatic consultant of their budget so that the project can be designed to fit within those parameters.

Construction Cost Projections

The cost to construct a pool is dependent on many factors, including its size, features, materials used in construction and geographic location. The approximate cost per square foot can vary dramatically from as low as $180/sqft to as high as $900/sqft. Material costs vary dramatically both domestically and internationally as can labor rates, even in different regions in the U.S. Rules governing prevailing wage rates coupled with shifting supply and demand curves account for much of this variation. However, we can produce Rough Order Magnitude (ROM) costing early on in the project, typically in the Schematic Design phase.

Once the baseline is established, the cost of special equipment can be discussed and added to the baseline. Such expenses might include corona discharge ozone generators, medium and low-pressure UV systems, hyper-dissolved oxygen systems, enzyme pre-treatment systems, CO² systems for pH control, play equipment, material finishes, chemistry control devices, et al.

Long-Term Cost Projections

Investing in a pool or water feature is not a one-time expense. Property owners should understand that they will have ongoing expenses, including maintenance, water treatment, repairs as well as gas and electricity costs. Generally speaking, higher up-front costs for the equipment listed above can significantly diminish the projected operational cost and result in as little as a 2-3 year pay-off.

At Aqua Design International, our project managers are experts at developing project cost projections, and our projects typically fall within 10% of our rough-order-of magnitude projections in Schematic Design—an uncommonly accurate range. It’s thanks to our expertise in designing large scale projects and our background in pool construction, which provides us with the unique insights necessary to maintain a responsible budget throughout the process. Call us at our headquarters in Tucson at (520) 219 8929 to discuss your pool project.

share

More Articles

ADA Swimming Pool

Project Spotlight

ADA Swimming Pool

share

Understanding ADA Swimming Pool Requirements

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a federal civil rights law designed to enhance access for those with disabilities and prohibit discriminatory acts against them. One of the areas that the ADA regulates is the design of commercial or public swimming pools. If you’re building a hotel, resort, casino, or any other commercial property and you plan to include a swimming pool, your water feature must be in full compliance with the ADA’s regulations.

Requirements for Existing Pools

The new updates to the ADA law, implemented in 2010, state that businesses with existing pools should make these pools accessible when doing so is readily achievable. In other words, if an existing pool can be made accessible without unreasonable effort or expense, then it must be made accessible. To defray the cost of making an existing pool ADA-compliant, property owners can refer to Sections 44 and 190 of the U.S. IRS Code. These allow tax credits and deductions intended to offset the cost of enhancing accessibility.

Options for Making Pools Accessible

The 2010 ADA updates sort pools into two main categories. Large pools are defined as having at least 300 linear feet of pool wall. Small pools have fewer than this. The ADA requires large pools to have at least two accessible entry and exit points. Small pools must feature at least one. For a small pool, it is acceptable to have either a sloped entry or a fixed pool lift. For a large pool, one entry/exit point must be a fixed pool lift or a sloped entry, and the other one can be a transfer wall, transfer system, or pool stairs.

The swimming pool designers at Aqua Design International have an in-depth understanding of ADA requirements, as well as all other applicable compliance requirements. Our team can design and construct a swimming pool that enhances your property, pleases your guests, and enables you to remain in full compliance with all applicable regulations. To get started on your project, call our office in Tucson at 520-219-8929.

share

More Articles

Resort Water Features

ADI Insights

Resort Water Features

share

Resort Water Features, Beyond the Pool

The pool may be the centerpiece of the resort, but it isn’t the only aquatic amenity your guests can enjoy. Water features can be entertaining (splash pads), relaxing (spas), or visually stunning (water fountains and reflecting pools). To identify the water features that would best suit your resort, consider your target demographic.

Splash Pads

If your resort caters to families with young children, splash pads can be a very popular attraction. Splash pads, also known as spray parks, involve little to no standing water. Instead, water is forced upward through ground nozzles to create refreshing sprays. Sprays can also come from playfully designed vertical features, including interactive elements for children of all ages. Since there is no standing water, splash pads have the added benefit of requiring little to no lifeguard supervision. To create a more enticing setting, install benches and coordinate to ensure adequate shade coverage around the periphery for parents.

Water Fountains

Many resorts feature elegant water fountains to create a visually stunning landscape. These may be installed anywhere from the porte cochere to the lobby, restaurants or throughout the grounds. Water fountains are endlessly customizable. Some feature intricate, classical sculptures, while others embrace a contemporary design. Some are designed to produce sound, others as quiet and unobtrusive as immutable reflecting pools.

Spas

Spas and whirlpools are often situated near the main pool of a resort. They offer a quieter retreat for adults to relax in, away from the hustle and bustle of the kids in the main pool. Spas may also be housed indoors, offering year-round access for resorts in northern climates.

Reflecting Pools

Reflecting pools are typically shallow pools not intended for swimming. The surface of the water is left undisturbed intending to inspire a relaxed, meditative mood.

Koi Ponds

Koi ponds can be suitable for nearly all climates, as the fish can be brought inside to an interior tank during the winter. Koi ponds offer delight for all ages. They can be designed like a water garden with the use of beautiful, natural stone and water-loving plants. The key to the success of Koi ponds is to maintain the oxidation reduction potential of the water at 450 mV, well below that used in swimming pools but ideal conditions for the Koi to thrive.

Aqua Design International is a leading water feature design firm. Our team of experts can design any water feature for any application anywhere in the world. To request a consultation, please call our headquarters in Tucson at (520) 219 8929.

share

More Articles