By Nii B. Andrews
Within the walled courtyard of a 200 year old home, there is a covered splash pool in a stunning architectural setting.
The entrance to the pool is from the east end; the west end is completely closed off by a chevron tiled wall fronted by a golden Buddha statue sitting on a rectangular matte black granite pedestal.
The statue is placed within a recessed area which is delineated by a splendid Moorish arch.
Now further forward from this arch (towards the pool entrance) and about one third of the way up the pool, is another higher soaring archway supported by fluted truncated supports.
From the inner crest of this arch hangs a multicolored mobile sculpture by Edith Taïoni.
Its component pieces are individually and meticulously hand machined, painted, assembled and balanced.
The recessed ceiling from the classic archway to the pool entrance has a large acrylic floral arabesque fresco executed in 2006, by the same artist, Edith Taïoni.
At the entrance to the pool from within the courtyard garden, there are three steps within an uncovered semicircular pool area.
In order to enter the pool proper and swim, the user has to pass between two giant pillars supported on massive plinths.
The whole evokes an air of serenity, high aesthetics, history and perhaps the transcendental.
The mobile sculpture provides an interesting counterpoint to the solid, classical architectural elements in and around the pool.
By utilising a combination of metals, paint and hand burnished bolts, Taïoni has created a unique mobile which ‘floats’….in the air.
Within the “interior space” where the splash pool is located, the sculpture adds dimension and balance via an object which transforms and transfixes with the gentlest puff of wind.
When night falls, an inspired lighting scheme further accentuates the charm of this thoroughly evocative courtyard and splash pool.
It becomes a delightful dinner venue complete with earth, air, water and fire.
In such an elegant setting, we need not to be reminded that there are three things that separate man from the beasts: the gift of speech, opposable thumbs and dressing for dinner.