Can a Luxury Indoor Pool Really Be Sustainable?

For many homeowners, an indoor pool is the ultimate luxury. A space to exercise, unwind and spend time together, whatever the season.

But luxury is evolving. Today's clients want more than beautiful architecture and exceptional craftsmanship. They want homes that perform intelligently, tread more lightly on the environment and are built to stand the test of time.

Our award-winning Berkshire Project demonstrates exactly what's possible when innovative engineering meets bespoke design. Winner of the 2026 SPATA Sustainability Award, this remarkable indoor pool challenges long-held assumptions about energy use, proving that exceptional performance and environmental responsibility can exist in perfect harmony.

From the outset, our client's ambition was clear: to create a standalone indoor pool powered entirely by renewable energy without compromising on comfort or performance.

Achieving that vision required close collaboration among Origin, GeoEnergy Design (GED), and Heatstar, bringing together expertise across renewable energy and swimming pool engineering to develop a fully bespoke solution. The result is more than an indoor pool. It's a blueprint for the future of indoor swimming pools.

Behind the elegant architecture lies one of the most advanced renewable energy systems we've ever delivered.

An extensive Ground Source Heat Pump works alongside solar photovoltaic and solar thermal technology, supported by an existing solar farm serving the main residence. Together, these systems provide the energy required to heat the pool water, hydrotherapy spa, pool hall, domestic hot water and all ancillary spaces.

The entire building operates from renewable energy generated on-site. It's an approach that fundamentally changes what homeowners can expect from an indoor pool.

Home to the thermal store, pumps and control systems, the plant room houses the intelligent systems that deliver efficient heating, crystal-clear water and reliable performance year-round.

One of the first questions we're asked is, "How much does an indoor pool cost to run?"

It’s a fair question and this project provides a compelling answer. Despite powering the main residence alongside the pool building, the property runs at approximately £6 per day throughout the winter months. From early April through the summer, running costs reduce to virtually zero, thanks to the exceptional performance of the integrated renewable energy system.

What makes this project particularly special is that none of its technical innovation dominates the architecture.

Designed to complement the Listed main house, the pool building embraces timeless Tudor-inspired detailing, with elegant arched windows and Accoya timber features that sit comfortably within the surrounding landscape.

A carefully considered mansard roof conceals the solar installation, preserving the building's traditional appearance while maximising renewable energy generation.

Step inside, however, and the atmosphere becomes unmistakably contemporary. A coffered ceiling conceals colour-changing LED lighting, creating a soft ambient glow overhead, while iridescent black mosaic tiles transform the pool and adjoining spa into a dramatic focal point. As daylight shifts and underwater lighting comes to life after dark, the water continually changes, creating an entirely different experience from morning to evening.

It's proof that sustainable design never has to compromise on luxury.

As expectations continue to evolve, sustainability is becoming an increasingly important part of luxury home design.

For us, that doesn't mean asking clients to compromise on their vision. It means finding smarter ways to realise it. Whether through renewable heating technologies, intelligent environmental controls or carefully considered building design, every project begins with the same question:

How can we create something extraordinary that will continue to perform excellently for decades to come?

The Berkshire Project is one answer to that question. We believe it's only the beginning.