While architecture and design are the immediately visible aspects of an onboard swimming pool, an increasing amount of technology lies beneath the surface. Variable-speed pumps, water treatment and monitoring, remote control, integration with yacht automation systems and careful management of energy consumption are transforming what has traditionally been an energy-intensive installation into a system increasingly integrated into the overall management of the vessel. Idea Piscine is focusing part of its research and development activities on this evolution through a project called EcoGreen, which the company is preparing to unveil in the coming weeks. We discussed it with CEO Emanuele Battistini.
PM – Water management onboard is a particularly sensitive issue. How do you work to reduce consumption, waste and maintenance requirements?
EB – Today, design is no longer limited to the swimming pool itself but encompasses the entire water management cycle. We work with highly efficient, low-energy systems, automated treatment systems and solutions designed to limit unnecessary water replacement. Intelligent parameter monitoring maintains optimal conditions while reducing water and energy consumption, chemical use, and both routine and extraordinary maintenance requirements.
PM – In a sector increasingly focused on energy efficiency, how important is it to optimise the energy consumption of pumps, filtration and water temperature-control systems?
EB – It has become a priority. Energy efficiency is no longer simply an environmental issue but a fully fledged operational and performance factor. Variable-speed pumps, advanced control systems and intelligent management of filtration and water temperature significantly reduce energy consumption without compromising comfort or water quality. Each component is therefore assessed not only in terms of its individual performance but also in relation to the overall efficiency of the system and, more broadly, to the energy consumption and performance of the entire vessel. With this in mind, we are studying and developing a dedicated EcoGreen package for our clients, designed to further optimise the efficiency of onboard swimming pool systems. We will present the project in the coming weeks as an alternative to the conventional systems we have developed to date.
PM – Sustainability is widely discussed in the marine industry, although attention often focuses on propulsion. How “green” can a luxury swimming pool be today?
EB – Much more than one might imagine. A sustainable swimming pool starts first and foremost with efficient design, capable of reducing energy consumption, limiting water waste, using durable materials and optimising the management of systems and chemicals. Today, it is also important to adopt a Life Cycle Assessment approach, considering the pool’s overall impact throughout its entire life cycle: from the selection of materials and components to production and installation, through to energy consumption during operation, maintenance and long-term durability. Sustainability does not mean sacrificing luxury or comfort; it means designing systems capable of delivering high performance, reliability and a long service life while reducing their overall environmental impact.
PM – Are you working on specific materials or technologies to reduce the environmental impact of swimming pools?
EB – Research is a fundamental part of our work. We are evaluating increasingly high-performance and durable materials, as well as system-management and water-treatment technologies capable of reducing chemical and energy consumption. Innovations developed for the residential sector often find applications in yachting as well, naturally adapted to the very specific requirements of the marine environment.
PM – Automation and digital control are becoming increasingly widespread in yachting. Are swimming pools becoming “smart” too?
EB – Absolutely. Modern swimming pools are becoming increasingly connected, automated and integrated into yacht management systems. Digital platforms allow parameters such as water quality, temperature, energy consumption, filtration and the operation of individual systems to be monitored in real time, including remotely. The real value of digitalisation, however, lies not only in simplifying day-to-day management: collecting and analysing data makes it possible to optimise performance, increase reliability and schedule maintenance more efficiently, allowing intervention before potential issues arise. The next step is communication with the vessel’s automation systems, integrating the swimming pool into the yacht’s digital ecosystem and coordinating the operation of the various onboard systems. I do not want to reveal too much at this stage, but I can say that this will also be one of the central themes of the EcoGreen solution we are developing. The aim is to integrate automation, control and intelligent management to make the swimming pool not only more efficient and sustainable, but also easier to operate and more reliable over time.
PM – How important is it to design systems that are easy to inspect and maintain, particularly onboard, where technical spaces are limited?
EB – It is essential. Good design does not focus solely on the final aesthetics, but also considers the system’s entire operational life. Designing for accessibility, modularity and ease of maintenance means reducing intervention times and simplifying the work of crews and technicians – a decisive advantage onboard vessels where every technical space is valuable.
PM – Are there features that high-end clients now regard as essential but that were almost absent ten years ago?
EB – Automation, remote control and integration with onboard automation systems have certainly become increasingly common requirements. At the same time, greater attention is being paid to wellbeing, water quality, energy efficiency and the personalisation of the onboard experience. Hydromassage systems and RGBW LED lighting with dynamic colour management are examples of this evolution, making it possible to create different atmospheres and customise the environment according to specific requirements and the time of day. Ten years ago, the focus was mainly on aesthetics and visual impact; today, high-end clients expect something more – an advanced, reliable and easy-to-manage system capable of communicating with the yacht’s other systems and integrating into their lifestyle. Clients are no longer simply purchasing a swimming pool, but a complete, technologically advanced and personalised experience in which comfort, design, efficiency and sustainability must coexist.
PM – In the superyacht sector, after-sales service is often as important as the product itself. How have you structured your service and maintenance operations?
EB – For us, a project does not end with the delivery of the swimming pool; it continues throughout its entire operational life. We provide technical support, scheduled servicing and maintenance, assisting the owner, captain and crew in managing the system. Today, we are structured to provide service throughout Italy through a team of specialised technicians, enabling us to intervene directly and maintain a very close relationship with the client. In the superyacht sector, after-sales service is not an accessory element: it is an integral part of product quality and of the relationship we build with the client.
PM – How important is it to establish a direct relationship of trust with captains, crews and yacht managers?
EB – It is fundamental. They are the people who live and work onboard the yacht every day and have first-hand knowledge of the system’s operational requirements. Dialogue with them enables us to better understand onboard needs, prevent potential issues, schedule interventions and act more quickly and effectively when necessary. It is a relationship that goes beyond technical assistance alone. This is precisely why we consider the final commissioning phase so important: it is the moment when every aspect of the system is checked and fine-tuned, but it is also an opportunity to establish the first direct relationship with the captain, crew and yacht manager, transferring the knowledge required for correct system management. Proper commissioning lays the foundations for a relationship of trust that can continue over time.
PM – The swimming pool is one of the most “dynamic” systems onboard and requires constant monitoring. How much emphasis do you place on crew training?
EB – Training is a crucial aspect of our approach to service. During commissioning, we pay particular attention to working with the captain, crew and yacht manager, providing all the information required for correct system management. However, we do not regard training as a one-off activity: when necessary, we are available for additional sessions, even at a later stage, depending on the crew’s requirements or any changes onboard. The aim is to ensure that those responsible for the day-to-day management of the pool fully understand how the system operates, know how to use it correctly and are able to identify any anomalies promptly.
PM – How do you envisage the swimming pool of the future in the superyacht sector? More integrated, more discreet, more sustainable or more experiential?
EB – Probably all of these things together. From an aesthetic and architectural standpoint, we are already seeing highly distinctive projects in which the swimming pool becomes a defining feature of the yacht, interacting increasingly harmoniously with its overall architecture and design. In our view, the real evolution will lie in the ability to integrate these aspects ever more closely with technology, efficiency and sustainability. We envisage swimming pools capable of communicating with onboard systems, optimising energy consumption and resource management while simultaneously offering an increasingly personalised experience. Technology will progressively become more discreet, almost invisible, leaving greater space for design and the onboard experience.
PM – Where would you like to take Idea Piscine within the yachting sector over the coming years?
EB – We want to consolidate and strengthen Idea Piscine’s position in the yachting sector, increasingly becoming a reference partner in Italy for shipyards, designers and owners seeking genuinely bespoke solutions. Our objective is not simply to build swimming pools, but to contribute to the evolution of this element within the yacht, bringing innovation, research and expertise to a sector in which technology, design, sustainability and wellbeing are increasingly interconnected. We will continue to invest in developing new solutions while maintaining an approach centred on the client and the individual project. We believe that true value, particularly in the superyacht sector, comes from the ability to transform complex requirements into simple, reliable and distinctive solutions. Our ambition is for Idea Piscine to be chosen not simply as a swimming pool supplier, but as a partner capable of shaping a unique onboard experience.