When a Pool Has More Glass Than Structure: An Engineering Challenge on Superyachts
In contemporary superyacht design, the integration of wellness elements such as pools and spas often represents a complex technical challenge. Available spaces are limited, while owners’ aesthetic expectations are becoming increasingly ambitious.
In one of the projects developed by Centro Italia Yachting, the request was to create a swimming pool characterized by large glass surfaces, with the supporting structure reduced to a minimum. The goal was to achieve an extremely clean visual effect in which water, light, and transparency become an integral part of the yacht’s architecture.
Structural Glass Pools on Yachts: Advanced Construction Solutions
The project was carried out at the Palumbo Superyachts shipyard in Savona, Italy, an internationally recognized facility known for the quality of its workmanship and the high level of structural engineering applied to its vessels.
One of the most complex aspects of the project was the installation of thick structural glass panels. The glass was installed “butt-jointed,” meaning without any supporting frame or recessed housing within the structure—a solution that requires extremely precise design, both from a structural standpoint and in terms of technical sealing.
This configuration allows for a remarkably pure architectural effect, but at the same time requires perfect integration between the metal structure, the glass, and the sealing systems.
Integration of Pool Systems in Limited Spaces on Yachts
The main challenge was integrating all the pool systems within extremely limited spaces. As identified during the design phase, the available structure for housing the systems consisted of steel sections only 16 centimeters wide.
Within these structural bands, the following were integrated:
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filtration system
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hydromassage jets
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air injection system
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underwater lighting
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routing of hydraulic piping
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routing of electrical cables
The pool was also designed with an infinity edge on all sides and a concealed, lowered overflow channel, also integrated within the same 16-centimeter structural space.
This configuration required extensive engineering studies. The placement of technical components and the openings required for jets, hydraulic passages, and lighting systems had to be carefully designed to avoid any weakening of the structure.
Lighting Design for Pool and Gym on a Yacht
Another particularly delicate aspect was the lighting design. Various solutions were analyzed to achieve uniform light distribution within the pool. This was also crucial for an architectural reason: beneath the pool is a Technogym fitness area integrated into the yacht, which required lighting perfectly coordinated with the yacht’s interior spaces.
The light coming from the pool therefore had to be balanced and homogeneous, without shadows or irregular effects.
The routing of piping and electrical cables also required in-depth study, as all technical connections needed to fit within the limited structural spaces available and be properly protected.
Glass Pools for Yachts: Final Result and Design Advantages
The final result is a pool with extraordinary visual impact, where transparency, light, and technology coexist in perfect balance. Projects like this demonstrate how the construction of pools on yachts requires not only technical expertise, but also deep integration between naval engineering, systems engineering, and design.
Centro Italia Yachting develops fully customized pools and wellness systems for yachts and megayachts, approaching each project as a unique technical challenge.
Would you like to build a bespoke pool for your yacht or explore innovative technical solutions? Contact the Centro Italia Yachting team for a dedicated consultation.
