Spaform spa pools have become popular
in luxury gardens, far removed from sustainable design principles though
they be. Spaform spa pools are made from acrylic. Whirlpool effects are
provided as an aid to relaxation. They come in 'personal' and 'party'
sizes. Spa pool chemicals are used to keep the water safe. A dip in a
Spaform spa pool tends to be invigorating if of short duration but enervating
if prolonged.
The plumbing arrangements for a Spaform spa pool are similar to those
for an indoor hot bath: there needs to be a hot supply, a cold supply
and drainage. Electrical fittings for Spaform spa pool whirlpool pumps
and jets require particular care for outdoor use (where the risk of physical
damage to the wiring is greater) - this type of pump was invented by the
Jacuzzi company which gave its name to spa pools.
There is much to be learned about the design of Spaform spa pools from
the ways in which our predecessors have enjoyed outdoor bathing in hot
water. It is a curious fact that a hot water bath in a hot climate can
cool you down, while a hot bath in a cool climate will warm you up. Why
heat warms is obvious. The explanation for a Spaform spa pool cooling
you down is that it removes surface salts and oils and opens the pores.
Getting out of the water also produces the sensation of moving to a cooler
place.
Outdoor bathing obviously has a longer history than indoor bathing and
private outdoor open space is known to have been used for bathing since
ancient times. Stepwells were used for this purpose in Ancient India.
Gymnasiums in Ancient Greece contained bathing pools. The Romans introduced
the practice of bathing in hot water. Where possible, they used mineral
springs with naturally hot water. Where this was not available, they used
artificial heating systems, as at the Baths of Caracalla. This idea spread
throughout the Roman Empire. It influenced the making of spa pools in
the Islamic world and in northern Europe - including the baths in the
Belgian town of Spa which has given its name to this type of facility.
The Spaform spa pool is the modern equivalent of the ancient outdoor bathing
facility.
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