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21 Feb 2009, Sanjeev
Singh Bariana
WHAT is cool and fun,
promises hours of fun for weekend picnics, lazy summer
afternoons and romantic nights and offers a convenient place to
exercise and gather with family and friends? Hint: A party by
its side at your home states that you have arrived, and with a
bang. Yes, yes you are right. It is a swimming pool at home!
Seamlessly blending into your garden or home extension and
combined with effects to create a truly elegant setting, pools
are emerging as the favourite hang out places at homes as well
as in corporate houses and hotels. They offer a variety of
options for shape, size, depth and style and you can choose
between above ground or in-ground pools. A major investment in
your home, these contribute to the value of your property
besides catapulting you into the luxurious league.
Picture this: It was yet another manic Monday at work but you
drive home through crawling traffic with a smile on the lips.
Your thoughts are with your family by the pool in your backyard,
frolicking in the water, waiting for you to join them, your
favourite cool drink almost ready… A relaxing evening
later, you are ready for a million Mondays!
Ludhiana-based property dealer Mohan Adhar says that the buyer’s
emphasis is now on making life comfortable. “My experience
tells me that besides a greater spending power, people public
now want grander returns for their cash to make life as
luxurious as possible. Not very long ago, a big house with
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facilities was only the choice
of a fraction of the population. Now, with easier loans, even high
net worth service class individuals want maximum facilities. A
swimming pool is just one of them,” he says.
Agrees property consultant Anil Sawant. He says swimming pools and
other top of the line products cater to a very fixed, niche
clientele. So, the creators and spenders want only the best. “Home
pools are the rage in several Punjab cities like Ludhiana and
Amritsar, Delhi and other big cities. Across the rest of the
country, clubs, hotels and even certain guest houses are setting up
swimming pools,” he shares.
Hemant Atrish, chief designer of Technology Pools, one of the
pioneers in providing fully customised swimming pool design,
manufacture and installation service, says, “One of the most
difficult aspect of building a pool is selecting the person to build
it. It is always advisable to go in for a specialist, who has the
right intention to provide the best of products and advice. Apart
from selection, designing is another very important aspect that can
either add to the beauty of the surrounding or mar it.”
Atrish explains that pools are classified into different categories
— outdoor and indoor pools, private pools, hydro pools, hotel
pools, resort pools, water parks, school pools and society pools.
All have a distinct style and the selection depends on the personal
choice of the homeowner. “It is always nice to take the help of
the designer before finalising any design,” he adds.
Besides regular pools, certain companies also offer
state-of-the-art technology to fit spas, sauna and steam rooms.
Atris says, “People pay great attention to aesthetics in homes
these days. In my 25 years in the field, I have seen the home layout
change from the routine three rooms, a drawing room, three bathrooms
and a kitchen! One of the common orders these days is 'a lawn in the
front and a fish pond in the rear, a swimming pool in the back
verandah accompanied by a steam room, a gymnasium and a home
theatre'.” So, what to do want? |
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