An overview of the three swimming pools built by Trev Val dolphin. They are referred to here as Peter's, Suzanne's and Chris's, after their original owners. Their similarities include: * Their curvilinear style, also applied to parts of this site. * The precision and artistic passion with which they were built. * The intention that they be run ecologically - specifically, without chlorine. * Their location in the Alpujarra region of the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Spain Explanations will appear when you mouse over the images on the but on this version you must click any part of the montage and the page will scroll to the explanation and further links.

Pool built for: Peter Suzanne Chris Nearest centre Orgiva Lanjaron Orgiva Off - road drive 15 mins 10 mins 25 mins Max. dive depth 1.7m 2.2m 2.4m Max. swim length 7.5m 8.5m 13.0m Work commenced Apr92 Dec94 Jan00 Total worker hours 1 600 3 200 9 000 Weeks in construction 20 29 130 Height above sea level, m. 520 900 450

Below are the texts of the various pop-ups you would get when pointing at the parts of the above image, in the scripted version of this document in a recent browser with scripting turned on. Clicking the above images just scrolls the page to their description, below. Clicking a small image by a description, below, takes you into one of six detailed pages about my adventures while building each pool, how they work, and why I am trying to do this.
Image at top left of montage:
	The El Valero pool in July 2001 at sunrise. Commissioned by writer Chris Stewart. Reflecting the mountains to the South, the water overflows a unique mosaic rim, allowing all-round views from the surface, skimming and walk-in. This page shows my pools evolving from Peter's - sculpted without plans (bottom right) - through Suzanne's (bottom left) - developed from loosely dimensioned sketches - to this one, entirely designed on the Apple Mac platform and built with tight tolerances to the design. There is no page linked to this image, just an enlargement. Click the image by this paragraph for a closer look. back to top
Image at top centre of montage:
	An image based on one of the computer drawings used to produce the 4 metre (13ft) diameter, solar-powered wheel that elegantly does most of the work of a dismal pump around Chris's pool. In the shrubbery, near the wheel hub in the drawing, sits the lattice rim of the real wheel as it awaited installation. Between the wheel and this text is the filter and its plumbing, and the wheel drive mechanism. Click the image by this paragraph for the technical page about El Valero pool and the drawing without the clutter. back to top
Image at top right of montage:
	Chris Stewart's pool, from the south, in autumn afternoon colours, 2001. A bridge crosses the pond from which the water wheel collects the water to return via the filter to the pool, in the background. The pond acts like a moat and hedge forming a secluded bathing area. The plant with tops like fireworks is papyrus, growing in the water conditioning pond, mingling with the drawing behind this caption. For more about these click the frog or wheel drawing. For an enlarged autumn pool image click the image by this paragraph. back to top
Image at centre of montage:
	Chris Stewart's pool, from the north, on an evening in July, 2001, upon completion of the tiling, before adding the water. This view is intended to show the geometry as well as functionality of the twin spiral staircases. Click the image by this paragraph for the illustrated saga of the project (and a closer look at the image). A technical page may be accessed by clicking the water- wheel drawing, above, and a biology page, from the frog, below. back to top
Image at bottom left of montage:
	This is the pool I built for one Suzanne, as seen from the north in the summer of 2001. The pool is built into a steep mountainside dotted with grand old chestnut trees. The sculptural steps form a shallow bathing area, on the left, intended to be suitable for small children. Click the image by this paragraph for a full page about the pool and the adventures I had while building it, including lots more images.... back to top
Image at bottom middle of montage:
	I am the frog on the lily leaf. I was the size you see me, when I lived in Chris's water conditioning pond, in summer 2001. Organisms like us are vital to this kind of pool, not that we need to justify ourselves, forming part of a living machine. We frogs serenade the bathers and eat mosquito larvae in the pond, who would otherwise fly away and bite the bathers. Click my image by this paragraph for a page on the biology of our living machine where you will find a larger picture... ...of me. ....aak. back to top
Image at bottom middle of montage:
	This is the first pool I created - Peter's Pool, as seen from the west, on a summer afternoon in 1997, some five years after completion. Click the image by this paragraph for the page telling its story in text and illustrations including an unmontaged blow-up of the image below. back to top
Image at bottom right of montage:
	Ah! You've found the water mint ! This plant's rôle in water conditioning is mainly disinfectant. Its roots secrete substances that rapidly kill disease causing microorganisms in the water. Unlike chlorine, it doesn't poison fish, plants, atmosphere or us. It grows long floating runners and mauve flower spikes in summer. Even cutting back the dead stems in winter is enjoyable as when broken they liberate fragrant oil. Click the image by this paragraph for a page about chlorine and natural alternatives to it. back to top

page editions:
2.2, 2002, June 6th
2.4, 2003, December 18th