Joana Vasconcelos Unveils a Sculptural Swimming Pool

Art lovers, prepare to take a dip. On the grounds of Edinburgh’s Jupiter Artland sculpture park, Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos has unveiled Gateway, a flower-like swimming pool lined with nearly 11,400 azulejo tiles. From above, the permanent installation reads like a drop of water with six petals, each representing a member of the Wilson family, which founded the estate. But the pool’s sinuous form also relates to the site, thought to be an intersection of the leylines—or ancient energy paths—that some believe link spiritual loci around the world. “We’re connecting the elements, sky and earth, with water,” explains Vasconcelos, who based the vibrant tilework, custom made in Portugal, on her own and the Wilsons’ astrological charts. (She also designed the surrounding, curvilinear landscape of yews, boxwood, beeches, and laurels.) And yes, in summer, you can really make a splash. “People who swim become part of the project,” she says. “Without using it, it isn’t activated.” jupiterartland.org

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest