Jupiter Artland is famed for its exquisite sculpture collection and, therefore, founders Nicky and Robert Wilson surprised Joana Vasconcelos with the non-conventional request to create a swimming pool. 

Honoring her country’s long-lasting relationship with the seas and oceans, she then approached Viúva Lamego to create 11,366 hand-painted and glazed tiles manufactured the traditional way, as they’ve been doing since 1849, but with the added non-slip and non-frost challenge required for Edinburgh’s wintery temperatures. 

The visual artist’s vibrant and colourful drawing motifs span collective narratives, from sacred geometries to the zodiac and beyond. Within an enclosed garden, Gateway provides a both intimate yet expansive experience, interweaving the dichotomies of publicness and privacy, exploring the idea of swimming pools as playful sites where to foster community. 

Located in a mythical landscape, deliberately positioned along Ley lines, it provides a contemporary entry point into ancient discourse and collective spirituality; a site to contemplate and immerse.