They’re categorized as functional sculpture, but the curvaceous creations for the pool and bath by the UK company Splinterworks are all about having fun. Founders Miles Hartwell and Matt Withington, who describe their designs as experimental and theatrical, are experts at exploiting water, elevating it to the status of a dynamic design element. Originally furniture designers, they started making slides at the request of a client in Florida who couldn’t find one that fit in his space.
Splinterworks’ poolside slides are sleek and sweeping, and their hammock baths, suspended in the air, invite long, luxurious soaks – and lots of looks. There’s a yin and yang to Splinterworks pieces, which look solid yet ethereal, strong yet fragile, motionless yet kinetic.
“We push ourselves to work with innovative materials,” Hartwell says, adding that functionality is paramount in every design. And, adds Withington, “We love to play visual tricks, especially where balance comes into question.”
The duo’s latest design curve, Downtime, is a collection of candy-color slides that are intended to inject a big splash of personality into the poolscape.
Photo by XYZ
Splinterworks’ Hamaca baths were inspired by hammocks. Made of lightweight carbon fiber, they are available in a variety of finishes, including gold, silver and platinum. They have been installed in select hotels, primarily in Europe, Asia and South America. Designed for a wet room, they are available in two versions: wall-hung and freestanding on floor pillars. They can hold up to 44 gallons – around half the water of conventional deep soaking tubs.
Photo by Neil Landino
Splinterworks custom slides, which have a proprietary water-cooling system, are inspired by the architecture of the house. This style, called Tryst, is installed in Ontario, Canada.
Photo by Neil Landino
Splinterworks’ custom patinaed bronzed Vertex slide, installed at a pool in a private house in Maryland, is an organic addition to the landscape.
Photo by Carmel King
The sculptural bath sinks by Splinterworks are miniature replicas of the bathtubs which, when placed together, create an echoing of shapes.
The Downtime collection, which is assembled in sections, is designed to be connected by a hose or hooked up to the pool’s pump.
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