A custom cold plunge pool - 4 °C cold that looks like a spa

The standalone tub was the beginning of ice bathing in Brazil; the cold plunge pool is the destination. At home it becomes the terrace's centrepiece; in business, it is the only solution that takes a post-workout queue 16 hours a day without looking improvised.

How it is built

• A waterproofed masonry shell - proper pool-builder work, not a tub workaround.
• A finish of your choice: ice-blue glass mosaic, tile, porcelain or stone - we show real samples with the design.
• Submerged steps with a discreet handrail: getting in at 4 °C is hard enough; getting out shouldn't be.
• Sunk in, with a seating rim or elevated - it follows your floor's design.
• Refrigeration out of sight: the chiller in a ventilated niche or buried alongside, hidden plumbing, and a simple temperature panel at the rim.

Round or square?

The round one is the home favourite - it doubles as a reflecting pool in the landscaping. The square one with a travertine rim yields a seat and talks better to straight-lined architecture - see the Brasília house. In gyms, the shared rectangular one takes two or three athletes at a time. And whoever wants the complete ritual closes with the hot + cold pair.