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Creating a new standard, nine metres above the ground
T
he 2023 National Pool of the Year is an astounding Perth project. Raised nine metres above the ground, it takes in spectacular views of the Swan River, and creates an aquatic world of its own on the beautifully landscaped terrace. The project features an impressive 20 lineal metres of infinity edge, a wading deck, an overflow pool and a series of koi ponds. Construction required one pour of 45 cubic metres of concrete in the pool, and 15 cubic metres in the pond. The pool is even more stunning by night with more than 25 lineal metres of strip lighting illuminating the water on the external walls. The pool was built by Graziani Pools + Landscape, and receiving the award was a bittersweet moment, as the whole Graziani team and family were still mourning the loss of founder Don Graziani, who passed away only two weeks before the presentation. Kai Linke is one of the two directors who manage the business, the other being Don’s son Anthony Graziani. We spoke with Linke about the project and the legacy of Don Graziani.
Learning from the best
“Don would have been over to moon to win the award,” says Linke. “He always wanted us to succeed. He’d been around for a very long time and he helped us throughout his career. I bought his share of the business when he retired, about six years ago.” At the time, Linke had been working for Graziani as an employee of the pool building company.
The amazing 2023 National Pool of the Year by Graziani Pools + Landscape. Images by Michael Conroy, Silvertone Photography
“I was very lucky to have him as my mentor,” he says. “I had a good three or four years with him where he was working alongside me and teaching me what he knew.” Don Graziani came to Australia in 1957 as a 17- year-old from Pollutri, Italy, and worked at a number of trades before entering the pool industry in 1959 with Pine Valley Pools. He quickly saw that his skill set and work ethic would translate into starting his own pool business. He began developing his reputation amongst the industry and became sought after by Perth’s best architects and builders. He hired a team of loyal employees, most of whom stayed with him for more than 20 years. Of particular note is Viktorio Di Virgilio, who worked for him for more than 40 years. Meanwhile, Linke’s specialist background was in hydraulics, and while he had experience in construction, it was nothing of the calibre that Don could teach him. “I was very lucky,” says Linke. “He taught me how to build a very good product. He was very thorough and taught me a lot of tricks of the trade which he learned over 54 years in the industry. “It was just great working with him, it was always easy.” By the time Linke joined the business Anthony had taken over as lead manager, so Don had plenty of time to impart the deep industry knowledge of a master craftsman. “And he’d perfected the art of pool building,” Linke says. The owner wanted the pool to reflect the view to the Swan River and beyond
Massive three metre long tiles were cut down to 1.7 metres by 1.4 metres
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SPLASH!
October/November 2023