A Florida couple’s unique swimming pool has been causing a stir all over the internet. The Minardi’s, Louis and Raye Ellen, built a swimming pool in their backyard that was designed to look like a six-shooter revolver. This eye-catching and unconventional pool has gone viral on social media, with people either loving or hating the design.

Florida Homeowners Gun Shaped Pool Turning Heads on Social Media

Louis Minardi, who grew up hunting with friends, remembers receiving his first firearm, a double-barrel shotgun, when he was only in middle school. He went on to open a gunsmith business with his brother after attending classes in 1976. In the 1980s, when he and his wife decided they wanted a lap pool, they called up their friend Albert Jones III, who owned A.H. Jones Pool Company. It was during this conversation that the idea for a gun-shaped pool was born.

Homeowner Wanted A Six-Shooter Shaped Pool For Swimming Laps

Jones, who was bored of building more traditionally shaped pools, showed up with plans modeled after a Ruger Blackhawk, a 1950s-era, Western-style revolver characterized by its long barrel and known for its durability and accuracy. The final result was a 55-foot long pool shaped like a six-shooter revolver, complete with a concrete replica of a bullet.

“You swim your lap down the barrel,” Minardi said Jones told him. “It gets deeper on that end. You can flip over from it, and then you can swim back.”

Jones begged him, Louis Minardi said, to let him construct the gun pool. He complained that he was sick of making the standard kidney-shaped pools found in so many Florida backyards. Minardi consented, on the condition that he adhere to the financial constraints of his project.

Minardi, who lives in the Tampa area, has owned the revolver-shaped pool for roughly 40 years. “Neighbors that have bought houses around here have all come by,”they’re all, ‘Is this guy a whack job?’,” said Minardi.

Jones, who died in 2010, color-coordinated the perimeter pool tiles to accurately reflect the revolver’s brown handle and silver body. He detailed tiles on the bottom of the pool to distinguish the gun’s individual components, like the trigger and ammunition chamber. And he installed a jacuzzi in the hammer.

Revolver Pool Continues To Stir Controversy 40 Years Later

When Minardi built the pool four decades ago, he created the ultimate conversation starter in his backyard. While the pool has been resurfaced over the years, the shape remains the same. Louis Minardi said the pool is popular among family and friends, who have used it to teach their children to swim.

The revolver-shaped pool, is stirring controversy all over the web due to the ongoing debates surrounding gun culture, gun ownership, and gun violence in the United States. The pool’s unique design, combined with the state’s reputation for guns, has garnered attention and sparked discussion among those who view the pool as a reflection of the state’s gun culture. Some may see the pool as a celebration of gun ownership, while others may view it as insensitive or inappropriate, given the prevalence of gun violence in the country. Additionally, the current political climate in the United States has seen an increase in calls for gun control and regulation, making the pool’s design a polarizing topic of conversation.

The Minardi’s, however, defend their decision, stating that the pool is simply an expression of their love for firearms and gun culture. They believe that the pool is a harmless and fun addition to their backyard, and they have no intention of changing it anytime soon.

Read more:

Interested in more swimming pools with interesting shapes? Pool Magazine has you covered. Check out this Texas-Shaped Pool at the Marriott in Houston, TX.

Featured Photo Credit: YouTube

If you think you need a large backyard or living space to build a pool think again. In 2023 swimming pools will be seen in new shapes, sizes and feature high-tech automation to fit any indoor or outdoor space. One high tech pool feature that is becoming increasingly popular is the movable pool floor.

When most people think of a swimming pool, typically they imagine space devoted exclusively to the pool. The thought that this same space could be used multifunctionally wouldn’t occur to them. Imagine having a party in the backyard with your friends or your family, BBQ fired up and all that is missing is a swimming pool. What if you could magically change your patio into a full-size swimming pool? With the push of a button the water gently starts flowing across the movable floor. The color of the tiles fades away into a tropical blue color and the pool magically appears.

All that’s left to do is tell your astonished guests that the pool party can begin!

@poolmagazine Check out this amazing transformation with @tielemanpooltechnology #Repost – @tielemanpooltechnology 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 🔄 WAIT FOR IT🔥 We have equipped this client’s swimming pool with a custom-made movable floor (28.87 x 18.54 ft), including integrated stairs. This way, no valuable space is wasted, and the client can use his pool for several activities. The floor can be operated in a flash by means of its touch screen. Looking for a custom-made movable floor yourself? Check our website or contact us at [email protected] #movablefloor #vireel #reelsinstagram #reels #pooldesigns #pools #trending #movablepoolfloors  #custompool  #poolsofinstagram #pooldesign #dreampool #architecturephotography #poolconstruction #design #tielemanpool #poolscape #custompool #architecture #homedesign #homeideas #poolbuilder #landscapedesign #like4like #likeforlike #movablefloor #tielemanpooltechnology #designbuild #luxuryhomes #dreamhouse #luxury #luxurylifestyle ♬ Paradise by Coldplay – PoolMagazine

The technology behind a movable pool floor

For more than 50 years, Tieleman Pool Technology is the mastermind behind these floating movable pool floors. The unique Tieleman movable floor system consists of a stainless steel 316L floating platform which features a series of cables and a pulley system with a water-based hydraulic cylinder.

The strong base of the movable floor provides a bearing capacity of over 100kg per m² (220lbs per ft²). Integrated in the structure are solid buoyancy devices that allow the pool floor to float to the surface. This implies that all technology is concealed within the frame of the movable floor and thus no cables along the pool wall, which ensures a high level of safety and clean finish.

The floor can be adjusted to every desired depth. When the floor is moved, the water will gently flow through the small gap between the floor and the pool wall. Within about four to five minutes your patio or living space is transformed into a full-size swimming pool. If you would like to see various movable floors you should definitely  request the free brochure here .

Benefits for pool owners

A movable pool floor is not just high-end engineering and design. Besides the fact that a movable floor allows you to use your pool multifunctionally, it has numerous benefits in store for pool owners.

• Ultimate safety

A movable floor enables you to adjust the water depth of you swimming pool according to your personal preferences. This increases safety for users, especially children. In a raised position the pool is inaccessible for incorrect or unsupervised use.

• Saves energy

The historic drought , particularly in the western and southwestern United States, has led to an increasing demand for sustainable solutions that significantly reduce pool water evaporation. In a raised position, the movable pool floor prevents water evaporation, heat loss and ensures lower heating costs through insulation integrated in the floor.

• User-friendly

The movable floor system is very convenient and therefore user-friendly. The operation is controlled via a simple push button, a touch panel or a mobile device, which can be equipped with passwords for different users.

Eye-catching details and architectural integrity

It is no longer a secret that flexibility and functionality of space, architectural integrity and, last but not least endless customization, can no longer be dismissed from luxury residences and swimming pools in the year 2023. As Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple, Inc) once said: “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.“

As a swimming pool and its movable floor form an essential part of the architectural stronghold, Tieleman exclusively engineers each movable floor to incorporate the ideas and options desired by the client.

And that is why Tieleman is definitely setting the bar with their movable floors and associated options. The shape is only limited by the available free space and additional features (integrated stairs, integrated sun deck/lounge area, swim-out benches e.a.) are engineered and designed to match the pool and its surroundings. So whatever idea you have, with a Tieleman movable floor the possibilities are endless.

A great opportunity for pool builders to expand their business

It can be challenging for pool builders to compete due to the constant trends in the industry. Therefore, pool builders and designers must find ways to stay innovative. In turn, movable floors give pool builders access to a new niche market, allowing them to increase sales, revenue and profits. In fact, industry experts predict that movable floors will not only take the pool industry by storm but even grow to become a household name within the industry. So definitely something to keep an eye on.

Follow us on Instagram:

View this profile on Instagram

Tieleman | Movable pool floors (@tielemanpooltechnology) • Instagram photos and videos

https://www.instagram.com/tielemanpooltechnology/

Pool Magazine is proud to have been one of the sponsors of this 2022’s Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge at the PSP Deck Expo in Las Vegas. The winning design was done by up-and-coming designer Rance Schindler who blew away the judges with his $10,000 winning entry, courtesy of Riverflow Pumps by Current Systems.

The annual competition is the brainchild of renowned designers Mike Farley and Reid Schindler, and it seeks to promote cutting-edge ideas for backyards by doing away with financial restraints. Designers are invited to enter the competition and create the ultimate outdoor oasis for hypothetical clients on a million-dollar budget.

Entrants in the 2022 competition were tasked with creating an outdoor living oasis for a husband-and-wife pair of lawyers in Chicago, Illinois. Designing the ultimate backyard for these dream clients meant planning a seasonal space that would prioritize health, wellness, and self-care.

Some prerequisites for submissions were that the design should incorporate a few wish list items:

The Wishlist

The Site

• Home has a lower terrace area, front approach, and rooftop terrace.
• Seasonal usage of space, designer should consider wind, sun direction, shade, and the Chicago climate.
• Clients goal for the space is a space to unwind.

Aesthetics & View

• Keep the view open if possible, but they also want privacy.
• Preferred to have natual elements, but they love structured design.

Pool & Spa

• The pool is for health, wellness, and self care.
• They are looking for a complete setting, not just a swimming pool.
• A hot tub and cold plunge are needed, possibly a sauna.

Elements to Include

• A fire element to gather around.
• Cool lighting.
• The use of a Riverflow Pumps by Current Systems product (lazy river or swim jet system).
• A real or synthetic lawn space.
• The use of Ledge Lounger furniture.
• An outdoor kitchen.

Other Considerations

• The couple will entertain/host six to 12 guests maximum.
• The wife teaches yoga and barre as a hobby, and wants a space to exercise and cool off.

A large number of entrants tried out for the Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge, but only a select few were invited to Las Vegas to show off their skills. PoolHaus’s Brent Dutton, Old State Landscape’s Whitney Morris and Stephanie Carnahan, Complete Exterior Solutions’ Rance Schindler, Randy Angell Designs’ Brad Holley, and AquaTerra Outdoors’ Minsung Kim, Karishma Karki, Paola Hidalgo, and Sameepa Modi were also finalists.

Entries were evaluated by an expert panel of judges based on the following factors:

1. Aesthetic Quality – Is the concept’s form pleasant to look at?           
2. Differentiation – Is the concept “fresh” & unique?    ​           
3. Functionality -Does the concept meet the criteria of the families needs?  Does it consider all elements site analysis? 
4. Realization Possibility – Is the concept buildable if the client decided to move forward with construction? ie. topographically, features, function​

Let’s take a look at this year’s winning design by Rance Schindler of Complete Exterior Solutions. One of the prerequisites of the client was shade.

This design answers that request with a large tree that shades the outdoor living space and becomes a central focal point of the backyard.

The design plan also features a lovely rooftop dining and conversation area as well as an outdoor kitchen.

A gorgeous glass deck overhangs the entire outdoor living space and looks down on a smartly appointed pool, fire pit, and lounging area below.

Think you’ve got what it takes to enter next year’s Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge? Learn more about this contest and how to enter.

https://www.themilliondollarpoolchallenge.com/