The plan. Photo: Cipriano Custom Pools & Landscaping
The team runs the conduits for the fiber optic lighting that comprise the violin’s strings. Photo: Cipriano Custom Pools & Landscaping
Note how the bow of the violin intersects the pool at the neck. Photo: Cipriano Custom Pools & Landscaping
A custom-cut template is used for the glass tile installation of the f-holes of the violin. Photo: Cipriano Custom Pools & Landscaping
The custom gradient tile blend seamlessly transitions throughout the pool. Jet-black glass tile used for the raised overflow spa and f-holes can also be seen. Photo: Cipriano Custom Pools & Landscaping
The dolomitic limestone patio and the “purfling” of the violin, which is the skinny piece of black limestone that outlines the pool’s coping. Photo: Cipriano Custom Pools & Landscaping
Starry fiber optic lights were incorporated into the floor of the koi ponds. Photo: Cipriano Custom Pools & Landscaping
The raised perimeter overflow spa depicts the chinrest of the violin. It fits 12 people, and was finished entirely in jet-black glass tile. Photo: Cipriano Custom Pools & Landscaping
The violin’s tuning pegs were designed as swimouts. Photo: Cipriano Custom Pools & Landscaping
During the day, the overflow spa reflects the landscape design across the surface of the water. Photo: Cipriano Custom Pools & Landscaping
Straight-on view of the violin with the color LED, fiber optic and landscape lights in full effect. Photo: Cipriano Custom Pools & Landscaping
The landscape plantings that adorn the pool are a series of colorful perennials, grasses and specimen trees that work in a rhythmic pattern. Photo: Cipriano Custom Pools & Landscaping
The bright LED lights have been left off in this shot. Note the Bloodgood Japanese maple on the left side of the image. Photo: Cipriano Custom Pools & Landscaping
The landscape around the pool was designed around a series of sinuous boxwood hedges installed in a rhythmic fashion to create the feeling of motion. Photo: Cipriano Custom Pools & Landscaping
Nighttime showcases the violin pool’s fiber optic and landscape lighting. Photo: Cipriano Custom Pools & Landscaping
THE DETAILS: To the company’s knowledge, this is the first project ever to incorporate glass tile and fiber optic lighting in a swimming pool design. It all started with the client’s vision for a pool in the exact shape of a 1700s-era Stradivarius violin. The entire interior of the pool is finished in glass tile as a means to replicate a violin’s wood stain finish. Cipriano Landscape Design created 15 custom tile blends for this project.
The koi pond, which depicts the bow of the violin, intersects the pool. To create a more fluid transition while keeping the koi and pool water separate, the company installed clear acrylic panels directly into the gunite shell of the pool.
By designing and installing the majority of pool patios, dining patios, outdoor kitchen and bar on one side of the swimming pool, the team was able to properly scale these elements to the pool and home.
