Nestled between an ancient palm grove and an orange garden in the Plain of Catania, the swimming pool designed by the architectural firm Studio Associato Cantone Ortoleva in collaboration with Giuseppe Motta stands as a testament to architectural harmony. An Italian-style garden leads from the palm grove to the enclosed pool area, which is connected to the surrounding agricultural landscape via an open doorway in the perimeter wall. The spaces are well-defined, but at the same time interconnected. “The project represents a point of intersection between the timeless agricultural landscape and the built environment. Nature permeates through the openings in the perimeter wall and is reflected in the water of the swimming pool,” explains Augusto Ortoleva.
In addition to the reflections, the swimming pool area harmoniously complements the citrus grove landscape thanks to the meticulous choice of colours and textures of the pavers used for the pool decking and interior. The sharp contours of the pool itself further accentuate this sense of communion with nature. The common thread linking the enclosed, secluded courtyard with the pool interior is the seductive tactile texture of the 60×60 cm square porcelain slabs from Casalgrande Padana’s Pietra Baugè Bianca collection. These slabs, with their subtle hues, blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings, mirroring the earthy tones of the terrain and incorporating the landscape as a compositional element. In addition to their aesthetic versatility, the Pietra Baugè slabs meet rigorous functional standards. The 20 mm thick exterior version ensures a high load-bearing capacity, while porcelain stoneware is intrinsically non-absorbent, fireproof and impervious to external stresses and climatic conditions, including frost, chemicals, moisture, salt, stains, wear and abrasion. In addition, it is easy to install and clean and resistant to the growth of mould and moss. This makes it ideal for a wide range of applications, including exterior pavings and swimming pool interiors. Porcelain tiles from Casalgrande Padana are composed solely of natural raw materials and do not contain plastics or harmful substances. They are manufactured in a closed-cycle process that uses sophisticated anti-pollution technology to fully recycle all components with practically zero emissions or losses.
