128 | 2024 SPASA Awards: Ultimate Pools T T Kelly Deeks Unique designs score multiple awards POOL INDUSTRY The diversity of leading self-cleaning pool builder Ultimate Pools’ high-quality solutions has been celebrated at the 2024 Swimming Pool and Spa Association (SPASA) Awards of Excellence, where four unique projects brought home awards. Three of the Ultimate Pools team also took away awards, while the company was named Best Prefabricated Composite Pool Builder of the year and Best Fibreglass Pool Builder for the fourth year running. “Of all the categories, that’s the one that’s most sought-after for us,” says Ultimate Pools general manager Rainbow Morris. “That is our speciality, and we want to be the best in the business.” Ultimate Pools is an industry leader at the forefront of design and technology, and its product offering, lifetime warranties, self-cleaning system, out-of-ground options, and skilled team make the company a pioneer influencer in the New Zealand market. In the composite category, and still at the forefront of design and engineering, Ultimate Pools’ freestanding and self-supporting Maxi-Rib pools are a unique and exclusive point-of-difference product. Recently released with pool and spa combos, this repertoire is complemented with plunge-style pools for smaller backyards. Ultimate Pools builder Levi Shelling picked up the Construction Tradesperson award, owner Steve Westlake won the Pool Sales Representative award, and Rainbow brought home the Pool and Spa Barrier Inspector award for the fifth year running. “That’s my speciality area, and my in-depth knowledge of what we can do and how we can complete each project and meet all of the New Zealand regulations helps a lot with our consenting processes.” Ultimate Pools’ winning projects this year are unique, with a range of special features to suit each client’s requirements and their property. A bespoke, Climate Care Certified swimming pool, utilising Maxi-Rib technology, won the Composite Pool over $60,000 award. A design of excellence, this pool is built for fitness and leisure, including holding swimming lessons. With a stunning combination of landscape features, the pool in the colour ‘Pacific’ creates a new dimension for recreation, despite the challenges of a sloping site. The Enclosed/Indoor Pool award went to a stunning and extraordinary pool with a first-of-its-kind in New Zealand enclosed cover feature from Alukov in the Czech Republic. Bringing all the benefits of an indoor pool, while quickly and easily converting to an outdoor space, the pool enclosure is paired with an impressive 10.2-metre X-Trainer for a warm, inviting, and pristine swimming experience 365 days a year. The Prefabricated Composite Pool up to $60,000 award was picked up by Ultimate Pools’ unique free-standing Express pool, which creates a space of serenity where architecture and innovation collaborate. Featuring an open-edge design that maximises the existing landscapes, this clever design offers the experience of being in an in-ground pool, but with the freedom to be installed where a traditional pool would never be a possibility. Ultimate Pools was proud to be recognised with the Sustainable Project award for one outstanding example of a sustainable and energy-efficient pool and equipment package, which complements its surrounding environment. Climate Care Certified, this pool was installed in a rural setting with surrounding wetlands, so the treatment of water discharge and also the construction of this pool had to take measures to protect the environment. Acacia Landscapes & Pool Construction Honouring the legacy T T from page 127 “Rather than simply designing a square block pool in a backyard, he always went next level – he was an artist.” Sited on Marine Parade in Mount Maunganui, Acacia’s 2024 Pool of the Year is a concrete block, freeform pool with a durable, attractive Diamond Brite quartz finish. The spa is integrated beside the pool at one end, with both pool and spa being heated. Water is filtered with a revolutionary new system called Naked Freshwater, free of chlorine. “It keeps water clean and is much softer and kinder on the skin,” observes Claire, adding that Acacia provided a complete package for this bespoke pool and spa project, including decking, block walls, timber detail in fencing, and screening in front of the pump shed. “It all works really well for the pool owner’s family, and everything is nice and private. We finished on site in December 2023, in time for Mark to see it in its full glory.” Challenges included the pool’s location in a flood zone close to a beach that necessitated additional survey and engineering work to meet local consent rules. Paul says building the pool’s spillover moat-style feature was another challenge, as the compound curve was very tricky to work with. “We had to lay the tiles in individual strips along the curve,” says Paul. “We didn’t cut any tiles – it’s all beautifully symmetrical. Achieving that level of detailed quality takes extra work and requires a lot of skill.” Paul was the first New Zealander to become a certified New Zealand Master Pool Builder (NZMPB) and is an active advocate for the industry, having served on the national executive committee since 2011. He brings many years of experience in pool building to every project that Acacia undertakes. “All the pools we build, whether out of the ground or in-ground, are site specific and custom built and we take care of everything from start to finish. We value our client relationships and focus on achieving outstanding results, one project at a time.” Sweet as Pumping Specialised Concrete Pumping Services in the Bay of Plenty Darren Foster | Phone: 021 447 149 | fosterconcretepumps@gmail.com Expertly crafted wrought iron, made in Tauranga and delivered New Zealand-wide Wrought Iron Custom Designs For Indoor & Outdoor Furniture | Balustrades & Gates 07 577-6089 sales@irondesign.co.nz www.irondesign.co.nz
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