Project Aurelia at Robin Hill transformed a dated indoor pool into an indulgent private wellness environment. LUMA completely redesigned the specialist pool installation, removing the Roman end for a counter-current system, creating a shallow children's play area, integrating a concealed Roldeck cover and advanced water treatment, while coordinating the Heatstar XFEC environmental design within a dramatically reimagined pool hall.

Project Aurelia demonstrates what can be achieved when an existing pool is completely reimagined rather than simply refurbished. The original dated pool was transformed into a highly contemporary installation combining architectural design with carefully integrated engineering.The project presented significant challenges, particularly working within the existing structure and extremely limited ceiling void while incorporating the environmental system and modern pool technology without compromising the finished appearance.The redesigned pool provides dedicated shallow water for children, counter-current swimming, a concealed automatic cover and a completely modernised circulation and water-treatment system. Considerable attention was given to details normally overlooked, including creating a bespoke stainless-steel pool-cover control to coordinate with the other electrical accessories rather than accepting the manufacturer's standard control.The result is a technically complex refurbishment where much of the engineering has deliberately disappeared into the architecture. Project Aurelia represents a complete transformation in design, functionality, performance and finish, while successfully overcoming the restrictions of the orig

Project Aurelia transformed an outdated traditional pool into a contemporary family wellness space. We redesigned the pool geometry, removing the dated Roman-end character and introducing clean architectural lines, a dedicated shallow children’s area and integrated counter-current swimming. A key challenge was the limited ceiling void, requiring the Heatstar environmental system to be carefully coordinated within the architectural design.

Project Aurelia required the complete re-engineering of the existing swimming pool and its associated mechanical and environmental systems. LUMA was responsible for the specialist pool design, specification and installation, working alongside Mercia Design & Build, who undertook the general building works. Pool Hydraulics & Circulation The existing hydraulic system was replaced with a new circulation arrangement designed around the remodelled pool. An InverPro variable-speed circulation pump was specified, allowing pump performance to be matched to the hydraulic demand rather than continuously operating at maximum speed. This provides greater control over circulation while reducing unnecessary electrical consumption. An H2flow FlowVis Digital flow meter was incorporated to provide continuous, measurable verification of actual system performance. During commissioning, the installation recorded a flow rate of 14.5m³/h with a calculated turnover period of 3.9 hours. This gives both the client and service engineer immediate confirmation of circulation performance and provides a useful diagnostic reference for future maintenance. Filtration Filtration is provided by a Waterco Multicyclone pre-filter and twin Waterco Trimline 100 cartridge filters. The choice of cartridge filtration was particularly important at Robin Hill because the property is served by a cesspit rather than mains drainage. A conventional sand-filter installation would require routine backwashing, repeatedly discharging significant volumes of treated pool water into the cesspit. The selected cartridge system substantially reduces routine wastewater production while still providing effective filtration. The Multicyclone provides an initial stage of separation before the water reaches the cartridge filters, helping reduce loading on the filter elements and extending cleaning intervals. Automatic Water Treatment Water chemistry is automatically monitored and controlled using a Kuntze NEON dosing system. The system provides continuous monitoring and automatic chemical control rather than relying solely on manual testing and adjustment. Kuntze Cloud Connect was also incorporated, providing remote visibility of water-treatment performance and assisting with diagnostics and ongoing maintenance. A Blue Lagoon UV-C system provides an additional treatment stage, supporting water quality and swimmer comfort alongside the primary chemical treatment system. Pool Reconfiguration & Counter-Current System The original swimming pool incorporated a traditional Roman-end entrance. As part of the refurbishment, LUMA completely redesigned this area. The Roman end was removed and the pool structure squared off to create a cleaner, more contemporary geometry. This newly formed end was then utilised for an integrated counter-current swimming system, adding a dedicated exercise and performance-swimming function without requiring an increase in the overall pool footprint. At the opposite end, the pool was redesigned with new access steps alongside a dedicated shallow children's play area, providing a family-friendly shallow-water zone while maintaining the main swimming area. Automatic Pool Cover A concealed Roldeck/Aquadeck automatic pool cover system was incorporated into a dedicated recessed cover pit, allowing the roller and associated mechanism to remain hidden when the pool is open. Retrofitting the cover into the existing structure created a significant technical challenge because the original pool and skimmer arrangement had never been designed to accommodate an automatic cover. The geometry of the existing components prevented standard parts from achieving the required interface. Rather than compromising the installation, LUMA CAD-designed bespoke transition wedges and manufactured them using 3D printing. These components allowed the new cover arrangement to integrate correctly with the existing skimmers while maintaining the required alignment and operation. Attention was also given to the user controls. The standard manufacturer's Roldeck switch plate did not coordinate with the stainless-steel electrical accessories specified within the finished pool hall. LUMA therefore created a bespoke stainless-steel cover control plate, retaining the required operation while visually matching the other outlets. Environmental Control The original pool hall utilised wall-mounted dehumidification equipment. LUMA replaced this approach with a fully integrated Heatstar XFEC 3000 Super Plus environmental system. The Heatstar system provides approximately 3,000m³/h supply and return airflow, together with controlled fresh-air introduction, exhaust, dehumidification and heat recovery. One of the most significant technical challenges was that the original building had insufficient ceiling void to accommodate the environmental system and the extensive ductwork required to distribute conditioned air effectively throughout the pool hall. LUMA developed the specialist environmental design and established the additional building volume required. Mercia Design & Build then undertook the associated building works, including approximately 36 inches of additional blockwork and replacement of the existing roof/truss structure. This allowed the environmental services to be properly engineered and concealed rather than compromising the finished architecture with exposed equipment. Specialist Ductwork & Condensation Control The environmental system incorporates extensive specialist coated ductwork, selected for durability within the warm, humid and chemically aggressive atmosphere of an indoor swimming pool. Air distribution was designed to include dedicated glazing-wash ventilation, directing conditioned air across the extensive glazed elevations. This assists with maintaining appropriate internal surface temperatures and controlling condensation while removing the need for visually intrusive wall-mounted dehumidifiers. The building envelope also incorporates a dedicated vapour-control layer to manage moisture migration and protect the surrounding construction. Below the environmental services, a dark stretch ceiling conceals the extensive engineering above. Individual fibre-optic strands are incorporated into the ceiling to create the starlight effect over the swimming pool. Overall Technical Approach Project Aurelia combines variable-speed circulation, digitally verified hydraulic performance, low-waste cartridge filtration, automatic chemical control, UV-C treatment, counter-current swimming, a concealed automatic cover, bespoke CAD-designed and 3D-printed components, custom stainless-steel controls and fully integrated Heatstar environmental management. The principal challenge was introducing modern pool and environmental technology into an existing structure that had never been designed to accommodate these systems. Rather than allowing those limitations to dictate the finished appearance, LUMA engineered solutions around them. Equipment was relocated, concealed, redesigned or bespoke-manufactured where necessary, resulting in a technically sophisticated installation in which much of the engineering remains deliberately invisible to the end user.

Luma Pools ltd