Since the whole project was designed to be energy-efficient, it only made sense to incorporate an automatic cover. As most heat and water loss is caused by evaporation, simply covering the pool can help to lower heating costs by 70 per cent and water fill costs by up to 90 per cent. Sanitation and maintenance costs are also reduced, as less debris enters the pool, while chemical consumption is lowered with the decrease in chemical evaporation. With the knife-edge perimeter overflow, a traditional track automatic cover was not feasible due to the lack of area to mount any tracks to guide the cover. The design team consulted with Tom Dankel of Aquamatic Cover Systems, in California, to help incorporate a cover that would provide the most esthetically pleasing appearance when opened or closed. That said, an automatic floating slat cover was selected. It comprises rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) slats which are joined together with a hinge-like connection. The slats are connected to a drive shaft which is driven by a patented hydraulic pump mechanism. This cover is able to retract from a water-filled reservoir adjacent to the pool structure. The slats wind onto the drive shaft as the cover is opened and float to the surface as the cover is closed.
A cantilevered-concrete ‘bridge’ was conceived to separate the pool and water feature, as well as to create a walkway joining the patios on either side of the pool. Not only did the bridge serve as a walkway and divider between the pool and water feature, but also as a way to conceal the floating slat cover bunker.
Custom 304.8- x 1828.8-mm (12- x 72-in.) sandblasted limestone was used as the top face material giving the bridge an illusion of being capped with wide planks of wood. Adjacent to the cover bunker and bridge sits the water feature area. This space shares all the same finishes as the pool, including glass tile, flamed black-granite coping, and sandblasted Eramosa limestone. Raised pedestals were created to support three oil-rubbed copper water bowls with scuppers. These water bowls provide the soothing sound of spilling water, as well as a stunning visual element.
