The 7 Most Incredible Pools Designed by Famous Architects

Tidal pools at Leça da Palmeira, in Portugal

Architect: Álvaro Siza

Built: 1966

Combining the serenity and safety of a pool with the salt water and sounds of crashing waves from the ocean, the tidal pools at Leça da Palmeira, in Portugal, offer the best of both worlds. Designed by Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza, the beach features two natural pools, which are filled with fresh seawater, and bordered by the rocky terrain to seamlessly blend into the natural environment. 

Photo: Jeremy Mason McGraw ELITE INT PHOTO courtesy of 7132 Hotel, Vals

Therme Vals, in Switzerland

Architect: Peter Zumthor

Construction: 1993-1996

Designed by Peter Zumthor, this spa was built over the only thermal springs in Graubünden Canton, in Switzerland. The structure is partially submerged in the hillside—nearly undetectable from the back—and the walls are made from locally quarried quartzite stone. Built up in layers, the 60,000 multitoned strips appear as if a stone were cut in half. 

Photo: Lluís Carbonell Courtesy of Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura