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Dabney B. on
Thursday, January 12th, 2012
While everything is bigger in Texas, everything is flashier in Las Vegas. When you book a Vegas hotel, you can pretty much automatically expect a certain level of lavish excess when you get there. The lights, the gambling, and the night life all contribute to the very powerful and decadent image of Sin City.
The same applies for your hotel’s pools. There are a lot of nifty hotel pools in Vegas, certainly, but I think that the Golden Nugget pool takes the cake.
What makes the Golden Nugget pool so spectacular isn’t the pool itself – after all, it’s just H2O and chlorine. What makes the pool so awesome is that an enormous, fully functioning seawater aquarium dominates the central of the swimming pool. And I’m not just talking about some dinky aquarium that has a few tiny fish, either. This 200,000 gallon hosts five species of sharks, including sandtigers, brown sharks, Pacific blacktips, nurse sharks, and zebra sharks. They also threw a couple of stingrays just for balance it out a bit.
Image: About.com
Now, we can all agree that this is pretty extravagant, but does a pool with a built in aquarium really hold up to the standards of Vegas over-the-top absurdity? I mean, just a few blocks down the strip you can find a replica of the Eiffel Tower.
There’s a lot more to the Golden Nugget swimming pool than just a few sharks. They’ve also got a water slide – that goes through the shark tank. Running through the center of the pool is a hollow tube with a bit of running water, giving swimmers a chance to know what it feels like to become completely surrounded by man-eating sharks.
Unless you want to grab some scuba gear, hop in a shark cage, and lower yourself to the bottom of the ocean, you’re not going to find a more up-close-and-personal shark experience.
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Dabney B. on
Wednesday, January 11th, 2012
One of the easiest ways to add beauty to a piece of architecture is to add a fountain. Throughout every culture and time period, people love fountains. Adoring water is hardwired into the human mind. So, when we see a place where water is so abundant that it is literally overflowing, our caveman brain kicks in and tell us that this is a great place to stay.
Today, let’s indulge our caveman instincts a bit by checking out 10 of the world’s most beautiful fountains.
10. Crown Fountain – Chicago
Rather than relying entirely on the waterworks to attract attention, the Crown Fountain in Millennium Park combines a charming, quirky digital face of an amiable looking fellow (or lady) who smiles, blinks, and spits water on the children romping about.
9. Tap Fountain – Menorca
This bizarre fountain seems to defy the laws of physics. It looks like some cosmic being stuck a tap into the sky, washed its hands, and then forgot to turn it off. It gets major points for the weird factor.
Image: Deceptology
8. Swarovski Fountain – Austria
“Blaaaahhhh,” this unsettling fountain seems to be saying. You can’t help but do a double take at the weird, uncanny valley-esque design. It’s unsettling, weird, beautiful, and almost humorous. Even the fountain itself seems to be confused.
7. Japanese Falling Fountains – Various Locations, Japan
These waterfall fountains have been appearing all over Japan. With their rather unique falling droplet picture design, this fountain can say “hello,” create pictures, and even advertise messages.
6. Magic Fountain of Montjuic – Barcelona
This fountain combines beautiful designs with colorful lights to create a stunning aesthetic experience.
5. Volcano Fountain – Abu Dhabi
Ever wonder what a volcano would look like if it spewed water instead of lava? No? Me neither. But now that I raised the question, which forced you to wonder what a volcano would look like if it spewed water, I can give you an answer. It would probably look something like the Volcano Fountain in Abu Dhabi. Sadly, this fountain went the way of the dinosaur back in 2004 when it was replaced with a more beautiful feature. I have no idea what they could replace it with that would be more impressive than an aqua-volcano.
4. King Fahd’s Fountain – Saudi Arabia
Ever wonder what the Eiffel Tower would look like if it were made of water instead of metal? No? Wow, you’re a really unimaginative person. You really should try to imagine what everything on earth would look like if it were made out of water so that you don’t get caught off guard next time you read one of these articles.
Anyways, to solve that mystery, it would probably look something like King Fahd’s Fountain. If a low-flying plane accidentally chopped off the Eiffel Tower’s antenna, then King Fahd’s Fountain would actually spew water higher than the famous French monument.
3. Fountain of Wealth – Singapore
The world’s largest fountain has got to make the list. The unique ring design represents the harmony among the 4 races in Singapore. Every now and then, they turn off the large outer ring of water to allow visitors to walk around the inner fountain, which is supposed to bring good luck. If you manage to make it in and out of that thing without getting wet, then it’s safe to say that it really is lucky.
At night, they put on nifty light shows inside of the fountain mist, which serves a sort of aquatic screen.
2 – Trevi Fountain – Rome
Sure, the actual fountain bits aren’t exactly overwhelming. There are no colorful light shows, exploding fountains, lightning bolts, or race cars, but the Trevi Fountain more than makes up for that with class.
1. The Bellagio – Las Vegas
Is it any surprise that the Bellagio made the list? Is it any surprise that it’s at the number 1 slot? It’s got some heavy competitors, but the Bellagio fountain is one of the most recognized, well known fountains on earth. The fountains go off every 30 minutes in the afternoons, and every 15 minutes from 8 PM to midnight. Each show is choreographed to music and lights, and there are literally dozens of different performances. You could spend all night watching the fountains and never see the same show twice.
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Dabney B. on
Tuesday, January 10th, 2012
You ever see a clip of a windswept, rocky ledge near the ocean that has waves perpetually pounding against it? Naturally, you understand fully that those types of ledges are extremely dangerous. The slippery rocks and the relentless waves could sweep you off your feet if you’re not careful and drag you into the ocean. You’d be in serious danger, as it would be nearly impossible to get your bearings, and the heavy waves could send your body crashing up against the rocks.
Still, a little part of your brain can’t help but think, “Man, it would be fun to swim in that, if it could only be safe somehow.”
Image: Lonelyplanetimages
Evidently, the makers of Australia’s Bondi Iceberg Pool had that same thought. Located on Sydney’s eastern shore, this swimming pool puts up a rather shoddy barrier between the swimming pool and the ocean. In fact, the barrier is designed more to keep swimmers in than keep the ocean water out. Every wave crashes over the pool barrier, buffeting swimmers with the raw force of the ocean.
A lot of us have been to wave pools before. They’re fun, sure but they can only really go so far. The fact that some machine generates the waves makes it only a poor replica of the real thing. I think it’s safe to say that most of us would rather feel the power of real waves, especially if we could experience them in a slightly more controlled environment where there aren’t sharks, jellyfish, and icky ocean goop squishing between our toes.
The fact that the pool is designed to incorporate the water of the ocean is both an advantage and a disadvantage. It provides a more authentic experience, sure, but that experience is necessarily limited by the whims of the Tasman Sea. Some days, the water might be cold and choppy, while other days might be warm and calm. You can never really be quite sure, but that’s the price you pay for authenticity.
These pools make the list because, well, you don’t need to spend $2,000 on a plane ticket and another $5,00 on a luxury resort just to get in. These pools can be in just about anybody’s backyard. They combine the calm serenity of nature with the fun of backyard swimming.
9. Barge Beach Budapest, Budapest
Most pools are neat because of their location, and design is just sort of a secondary thing. Because this pool is on a floating, fully functional barge, this pool gets to go wherever it wants, whenever it wants.
8. Gellert Spa, Budapest
Not every swimming pool on the list needs to be a lavish, over-the-top swimming pool. Sometimes, a bit of class is all you need to turn heads. The Gellert Spa is a throwback to ancient Roman bath houses where Joe Blows would come for a dip after a long hard day building the Coliseum.
7. Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
This infinity pool provides a stunning view of the skyscraper-lined horizon, combining a sense of privacy with a feeling of exposure to the world.
6. Golden Nugget, Las Vegas
Mess with the mob bosses in Vegas and you’ll be swimming with the fishes. At least, you would be swimming with the fishes, except that the Vegas is in the middle of the desert, so the mob has to improvise. Instead of concrete boots, they just throw you in the Golden Nugget swimming pool, which is a pool that surrounds a seawater aquarium containing sharks.
5. San Alfonso Del Mar, Chile
Why isn’t the biggest swimming pool on earth at a better position on the list? Well, the world’s biggest pool is right next to the world’s biggest ocean, a mere 50 feet away. Kind of defeats the purpose a bit, right?
4. Nemo 33, Belgium
Not for the casual swimmer, this is the world’s deepest swimming pool at a staggering 34.5 meters deep. Be sure that you don’t accidentally drop anything over the edge, or you’ll need nothing less than a full suit of scuba gear, advanced scuba training (basic training isn’t sufficient for that depth), and a bit of courage to get it back.
3. Bondi Icebergs Pool
People like swimming in the ocean because it’s authentic. People like swimming in pools because it’s cleaner, controlled, and shark are kind of scary. Australians don’t have to decide which to pick with this best-of-both-worlds swimming pool.
2. Blue Lagoon Geothermal Resort, Iceland
Grab your snow shoes, jump on a dog sled, and mush your way into the frozen heart of Iceland. Then, strip down to your trunks and take a dive into a pool. Sound terrifying? It’s not – the geothermal pool will keep you nice and toasty in Iceland’s frigid sub-zero temperatures.
1. Underground Pool, Utah
Swimming pools are cool. Caves are even cooler A pool inside of a cave? Well, now you’ve got a recipe for something awesome. I don’t really need to tell you why this one made the list. Just look at the picture and just try to not feel envy pangs. I dare you.
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Dabney B. on
Saturday, January 7th, 2012
Rooftop pools have a definite allure to them. On one hand, they are complete private locations that are isolated from the surrounding city. Not only are they physically distant from the street, but their high vantage points makes anybody on the roofs virtually invisible. On the other hand, they’re totally exposed to the open air, without any walls or barriers to create a sense of privacy. People on rooftops are quite literally on a pedestal, yet completely hidden.
This delicate balance between privacy and prominence creates the perfect setting for a sexy, high-class pool.
Hotel the Vine, in addition to having a rather odd name, has a sleek and modern rooftop pool that totally makes every other pool jealous. Hotel the Vine is located on a small Portuguese island, so the rooftop pool offers a spectacular 360° view of the landscape and ocean. For safety and comfort, a wall of pexiglass circles the rooftop, keeping inebriated swimmers in and uncomfortable breezes out.
Indeed, drunk-proofing this pool is quit necessary. As you may have guessed from the goofy name, the hotel focuses on all things wine-related, from grape-colored décor to wine therapy sessions. I sincerely hope that lifeguards on duty on that rooftop skyscraper, even if it does ruin the aesthetic. Booze, high altitude, and large bodies of water could just as easily lead to unforgettable memories as disastrous lawsuits.
I honestly can’t tell if it’s an accidental side effect or working as intended, but the plexiglass barriers that they’ve got surrounding the roof create a rather odd effect under certain lighting conditions. The glass catches the lights from surrounding buildings while remaining transparent, creating an odd illusion of a larger space surrounding the pool, as if the pool extends outward into the horizon.
The overall effect, it seems is something akin to being on an island (an island on top of an island, in this case). Imagine lounging on top of a skyscraper next a pool that seemingly stretches out to infinity, and you just might be able to feel like you really are on your own tropical island.
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Dabney B. on
Thursday, January 5th, 2012
Pick any random city on planet earth, and take a look at it on Google Maps. Odds are, that city will be near the ocean, next to a lake, or have a river running through it. There are exceptions, of course. Las Vegas is out in the middle of the desert, and Atlanta doesn’t have much water around it.
There’s a very sensible reason for this trend. Most cities began in a time before cars and planes, so people needed water to get around. Bodies of water are economically useful and beautiful to look at, but by and large most city folk don’t really interact with rivers all that much.
In fact, the city where I live, Pittsburgh, is a great example. Three rivers intersect pretty much smack-dab in the middle of the city. While the rivers offer a peaceful view in a busy city, the rivers can really be rather annoying because of the traffic bottlenecks they create.
By and large, river and lake real estate is vastly underutilized. They provide a pretty view, sure, but you’ll almost never see a Pittsburgher splashing about in the Ohio River.
That’s why the floating park designs in Budapest and the French city of Boudreaux are so brilliant. Each of these cities has created a barge to act a sort of floating park, complete with a lounging area and swimming pool. These barges provide locals a way to interact with the rivers that are simultaneously so familiar and so alien.
Most people won’t go swimming in city rivers because they’re perceived as dirty and they can be somewhat difficult to access. You’ll rarely see people swimming across city rivers, but those same people will happily take a dip in a swimming pool that’s floating on the river. Maybe it’s just a hygiene issue, but the filtered pools on these barges seem to make all the difference for locals who want to go for a swim.
One of the best features about these barges is that architects can create massive parks without acquiring enormous stretches of land. In cities where vacant real estate is precious, moving to the water is one of the wisest and cheapest options available.
Hopefully, this barge idea will spread to other cities and we will see more mobile floating parks spring up in major metropolises.
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Dabney B. on
Thursday, January 5th, 2012
I’ve got family near the Chesapeake Bay, and every so often we go out into the bay on somebody’s boat. There’s this one estuary that is protected by the state, so nobody can build anything permanent on it. Bizarrely enough, this one tiny square of land out in the middle of the bay is private property because of a grandfather clause. The owners decided to build something on it, so there’s a random little shack sitting on stilts about 2 miles off shore. The only way to reach it is to hop on a boat and navigate through the thick reeds and choppy waves of the Chesapeake Bay.
It’s run down, bare bones, and poorly maintained. It’s got no electricity or plumbing. It’s little more than a roof surrounded by four thin walls, a screen door, and a tiny porch.
Inevitably, though, every time we pass by it, there is a different family there, hanging out on the porch with a grill going, chatting, drinking beers, fishing, and waving to passers-by.
Despite its humble appearance, this tiny cabin has its own special allure, so completely isolated from modern life and completely off the grid. It’s gives renters an excellent escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life.
That is some of the appeal behind Utter Inn (that’s “Otter Inn” in Swedish). The inn basically consists of a tiny little house no bigger than a tool shed, a small sitting area circling it, and an underwater bedroom. The underwater room has 2 tiny twin beds and glass viewing panels. Calling it cozy would be an understatement.
Granted, the body of water it sits in is no tropical paradise, but that doesn’t make it any less appealing. It’s quirky, quiet, isolated, relaxing, and charming in its own unique way. It’s less like a tropical seaside resort and more like a cabin in the woods, except on the water instead of dirt.
To be honest, it’s really shocking that these things aren’t more prevalent. Quiet cabins are common wherever there are secluded woods. I’m fairly certain that the only reason why you don’t see cabins like these every time you go to your local river, lake, or beach is that getting building permits for such a tiny development would be a nightmare.
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Dabney B. on
Thursday, January 5th, 2012
For most of us, the closest we will ever come to a submarine is watching Red October, or maybe listening to Yellow Submarine. A select few devoted individuals can sign up for their nation’s navy for the chance to submerge in actual submarines and explore the depths of the oceans.
Most people don’t really ever expect to enter a submarine and cruise along the ocean floor. Evelyn Gridelet, the winner of the Guinness Experiences competition, wasn’t really expecting to go underwater either, but that’s what happened.
The folks at Guinness built a submarine for the sole purpose of letting one lucky Guinness fan and a some of her buddies drink a few pints in a freaking submarine. Could you imagine the cast of Jersey Shore being deep under the sea with access to all that beer?
Guinness created this submarine sea bar as part of their 250th birthday celebration, and they really spared no expense. They built the aquatic dive out of glass-reinforced plastic, designed everything to look like a submarine, and dumped the thing in the Baltic Sea.
The sub wasn’t just built by some architect who decided to go underwater. They actually had to follow strict marine standards to ensure that the vessel was safe and sea worthy. So, in essence, this thing has the Royal Navy’s seal of approval.
While I have to cheer on Evelyn for getting to experience such a remarkable thing, I think it’s a pity that Guinness didn’t permanently install the sub somewhere after the whole thing was over and make one of the coolest dive bars (literally) in London. What could be better than heading out to the docks with a couple of friends, descending into an honest-to-god submarine, ordering some fish and chips, and drinking a few beers?
Dubai’s kind of got a thing for stupidly ornate and over-the-top buildings, so much so that architects are always trying to outdo each other. That’s part of the mentality behind Al Mahara, an underwater themed restaurant. Nobody is really sure why they didn’t want to just go the extra mile and build it underwater; after all, they aren’t shying away from building a giant ice berg in the desert.
As I said, Al Mahara isn’t actually underwater, but every feature of the restaurant is supposed to replicate that feeling. With arcing, tunnel-like passageways, the building does follow the general architectural aesthetic that you’d expect. The main draw of the Al Mahara, though, is the enormous circular aquarium in the center of the restaurant.
Compared to other underwater themed restaurants, I would actually say that Al Mahara is the most impressive. At first glance, you’d think that Ithaa or Red Sea Star would be better because they are, actually, underwater. In reality, though, creating an underwater restaurant necessarily limits the building’s potential. You’re restricted by size and depth, and maintenance is extremely difficult and expensive.
By placing Al Mahara on land, the designers were more able to design a spectacular building and then add an aquarium in the middle of it. Completely submerged restaurants might be a bit more committed to the theme and just plain cool, but they aren’t quite as architecturally impressive. You’ve got to strike a balance, I suppose. The more extreme the location, the more limited you are by that location.
Al Mahara, which translates into “The Pearl,” is an absolutely beautiful and high class restaurant that transcends the only minor disadvantage of not being completely underwater. If given the opportunity to go to either Ithaa, the Red Sea Star, or Al Mahara, I think I’d go with Al Mahara.
Ever since Rome, public bath houses have been a popular means of promoting public health. While public bath houses haven’t caught on everywhere, they are certainly a unique form of cultural expression for a city. Nowadays, they can be found all over the world, especially near the Mediterranean and eastern China.
The city of Budapest is making full use of public houses, and for good reason – Budapest has more geothermal springs (80 in all) than any other large city in the world. Failing to utilizing such prime geothermal real estate would be a spectacular waste.
Of the various public baths dotting the city of Budapest, the Gellert Baths and Spa is perhaps the most extravagant and lavish. The décor is absolutely spectacular, featuring original pieces of Art Nouveau architecture, stained glass windows, and of course enough sculptures to make any ancient Roman bather feel right at home.
Not every feature of the spa is focused on making things feel classic and old fashioned. Gellert Baths roughly translates into “Disco Bath,” and the spa attempts to live up to that flashy title. It features thermal pools, artificial wave generators, massage, mud packing, and full spa services. I have yet to spot a disco ball in any of the pictures, though.
Whether the style is classic or modern, the actual bathing experience is what matters the most, and that is sure not to disappoint. The natural spring water filling the pools contains magnesium, calcium, sulphate-chloride, hydrogen-carbonate , fluoride ions, and sodium. The owners of the bath house claim that these chemicals help to cure a number of ailments, including arthritis and blood circulation problems.
Overall, the Gellert Bath is very different from a typical American swimming pool. It provides a dramatically different experience. It’s truly unfortunate that these types of bath houses never caught on in America.
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