THE IMPACT OF REFLECTION
Reflecting pools are good for the soul. They are more than merely a design element. They are shiny planes serving as windows, both to our pasts and our futures. They bring a calm respite from our day to day inner chatter and surrounding noise.
Today, in the middle of Memorial Day weekend, we are reflecting on a curated set of beautiful contemporary reflecting pools as well as a brilliant forest installation of mirrored trees.
One of the most important reflecting pools designed in recent times is those at the National September 11 Memorial. The project was designed by landscape architect Peter Walker and architect Michael Arad.
It is a tribute of remembrance and honor to the nearly 3,000 people killed in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 and in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
These twin reflecting pools are each about one acre in size and feature the largest manmade waterfalls in the North America. They occupy the original footprints where the Twin Towers once stood.
The names of every person who died in the 2001 and 1993 attacks are inscribed into bronze panels edging the Memorial pools.
This reflecting pool presents the illusion that the house is emerging from the water. The pool, on Shelburne Farms in Shelburne Vermont, makes a beautiful reflection of the wood walled house and nearby foliage. The outdoor pool, designed by Birdseye Design, is lined at the bottom with stones to enhance a natural look. The house itself was designed with a particular eye for its orientation relative to the sun, providing stunning views.
Phoenix, AZ
Ownby Design has created a stunning reflecting pool in the entryway courtyard of this Phoenix, Arizona home. You can almost imagine the soft cascading sound of the bubbler in the middle of the pool during a silent night.
This reflecting pool seems to emerge from the door to the home as an extension, drawing the interior into the exterior. The browns and grays of the surrounding stone are highlighted by the brilliant turquoise color of the pool, designed by House and House Architects.
The entirety of the house, called Casa Lluvia Blanca, in San Miguel de Allende, is sublime, especially entry patios, lush with plants.
The Kelly Residence, shown here, was designed by Abramson Teiger Architects. The entire property is designed with sustainability in mind, including hidden photovoltaic cells, water reclamation, and an artificial lawn. This reflecting pool highlights the use of such pools for cooling. As air moves across the pool it is chilled by the open water, decreasing cooling costs for the whole home.
This “minimalist ranch-house,” designed by Gilday Architects and called the Fish Creek Residence, features a gorgeous narrow reflecting pool dividing the driveway from the home itself. Inside the pool is a bridge of pavers, providing access to the residence. The home’s calm gray stone exterior is reflected in the pool.