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New Bulgari Hotel Chooses FT Leisure

F T Leisure Limited designed, supplied, installed and commissioned the swimming pool water treatment and filtration systems for the Spa in the Bulgari Hotel & Residences in Knightsbridge as well as installing several bespoke polished stainless steel water features. The Bulgari Hotel & Residences is the first new luxury hotel to be created in London for 40 years; the Spa, set over two entire floors, comprises a 25m swimming pool, vitality pool, thermal experiences with ice fountains and cooling showers, relaxation room, 11 treatment rooms, a fully equipped fitness centre and nail salon, it is one of the largest in central London.

The centrepiece of the Spa is the 25m swimming pool created from sandblasted Vicenza stone, lined with green and gold leaf glass mosaic tiles and surrounded by columns and cabanas. As with the visible fixtures and fittings throughout the hotel, the specification for the filtration and water features plant had to be of the highest quality to ensure a trouble free system and to achieve the best possible water quality for a luxurious swimming environment.

The filtration system is based on medium sand filtration, with standard (but effective) pool water treatment processes including disinfection, ph control, flocculation and sterilisation. Initially, the scheme was specified with an Ozone sterilisation system; however, due to plant space available and concerns related to the location of the plant in the building, it was agreed to switch to Ultra-Violet, which can still create excellent water quality.

The water features were manufactured by Invarmex, a company of Swedish origin with many years experience in stainless steel swimming pool products. Each feature was profiled to maximise comfort and relaxation.

The hotel is one of the UK’s boldest design and construction projects in recent years. The building has 6 basement levels; the swimming pool is on Basement Level 5 and the filtration and features plant are on Basement Level 6, some 25 metres below London street level.

This together with the hotel location - in the centre of Knightsbridge, London - presented a few logistical challenges to everyone involved: F T Leisure had just a 48-hour window to lower every single piece of filtration equipment down a shaft from street level to basement 6 using a hoist.

F T Leisure specialises in the provision of innovative products and professional technical services to the commercial, municipal and private swimming pool industries. Their range of services includes the design, manufacture, installation, commissioning and/or refurbishment and maintenance of water treatment and filtration systems, moveable floors, booms and disabled access platforms, ozone and UV sterilisation, wave machines and leisure water features. Recent projects include the Thermae Bath Spa in Bath and the Six Senses Spa at Pan Peninsula in Canary Wharf.