Immersive screens: designing an immersive pool
Key takeaways in 30 seconds
- An immersed screen integrates the image into the bottom or wall of the pool; it is not an outdoor screen simply protected from rain.
- The visual effect depends on the content, ambient light, water, and observation point.
- Structure, waterproofing, electrical safety, and maintenance must be studied together.
- The project must provide for pleasant operation when the screen is turned off.
Immersed screens: integrating imagery into the pool architecture
An immersed screen allows images to be projected from a surface integrated into the floor or wall of a pool. With SUBMERSCREEN, STEEL & STYLE explores this meeting of bespoke pools, LED technology, and scenography. The goal is to transform the atmosphere of the space without altering its architecture for every event.
It all began with observing artistic creations blending water and light projections. We asked ourselves: why not go further? Why not place a screen directly at the bottom of the pool to broadcast high-definition images, films, or even personalized animations? This bold vision gave birth to a true research and development project.
Technical challenges
Of course, moving from idea to reality was not done without overcoming some challenges. We had to resolve several fundamental questions:
- Waterproofing and durability: protecting the screen against infiltration, humidity, and water pressure.
- Display quality: defining and verifying visibility according to light, water, and observation points.
- Electrical safety: designing protection and isolation devices to ensure user peace of mind.
The design must combine the screen support, waterproofing interfaces, connections, and technical access points. Visual rendering is a project goal, as is the ease of operation and the ability to service the equipment.
The immersive experience
When you dive into this pool, you no longer just admire the reflection of the water on the stainless steel: you discover a real spectacle. Whether it's a film, a relaxing animation, or a custom-made creation, the screen brings the aquatic space to life and provides a feeling of total immersion. The images seem to float, blending with the water, creating an almost surreal atmosphere.
One step further in innovation
This achievement represents much more than a technical feat. It embodies our desire to challenge the status quo and to offer pools that spark curiosity and wonder. By combining design, technology, and imagination, we are opening up new perspectives in the world of aquatic wellness and entertainment.
Ultimately, installing a screen in a stainless steel pool is an invitation for everyone to enjoy a unique sensory experience, where water becomes the backdrop for a visual journey. And at STEEL & STYLE, we are proud to be able to bring such innovations to life, always in the service of those who love to dream… and to dive off the beaten path.
How to design a submerged screen for your project?
The starting point is an intention, not a screen resolution. Are you looking for a calm atmosphere in a spa, an evolving decor visible from a lounge, or a one-off set design for an establishment? Defining the moments of use avoids sizing a system that is spectacular in a demonstration but rarely used in daily life.
Define content and visibility conditions
An abstract pattern, a landscape, and text are not read the same way through water. Prepare a few representative sequences and examine them from the visitor's actual vantage points. A visual mockup can help with selection, but it does not replace verifying the lighting conditions and agreed-upon performance.
Specify how it will function day and night, the viewing distance, surrounding colors, and interactions with other lighting. For a hotel or spa, plan for understated settings, brightness adjustment, and a no-animation mode. The program must remain compatible with the comfort of swimmers and surveillance needs.
| Topic | Question to solve | Expected deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Experience | Who is watching the screen, from where, and at what time? | Usage scenarios and reference views |
| Image | What content and what visual result are you seeking? | Content excerpts and testing criteria |
| Integration | Base, wall, dimensions, and interfaces with the vessel? | Coordinated plans and details |
| Operation | Who changes the content and controls the ambiance? | Interface, access rights, and operation |
| Maintenance | How to diagnose and replace a component? | Intervention method and planned spare parts |
Do not confuse component watertightness with installation safety
An IP rating is not enough to validate equipment for any depth, duration of immersion, or water composition. The conditions declared for the component must match the project. Cables, connections, cable glands, and interfaces with the pool are also part of the system that must be examined.
In France, NF C 15-100-7-702 specifically addresses electrical installations for swimming pools and their environment. The qualified designer and installer must determine the applicable requirements. This article does not constitute a wiring diagram or a compliance validation.
Anticipate maintenance and system evolution
An immersive installation remains equipment that must be managed. Plan for the cleaning method of visible surfaces, access to technical components, availability of parts, and diagnostic mode. Ask what replacing a module entails: partial shutdown, complete shutdown, lowering the water level, or a specific intervention, depending on the chosen solution.
Water treatment and the screen must be compatible. Therefore, you must provide the designer with the products used, the anticipated conditions, and the maintenance protocol. A general promise of resistance does not replace written usage limits. Our water and air treatment page presents other functions that need to be coordinated with the pool.
VISUAL TO BE ADDED — Integration detail
Add a validated cross-section or authorized photograph of an actual interface, without disclosing any confidential detail.
Suggested alt text to be adapted to the visual: “Integration detail of a submerged screen in a swimming pool vessel”.
What budget and scope should you compare?
The cost depends on the display area, the expected visual result, and the integration. A quote covering only the screen is not comparable to a service package combining the pool, engineering, installation, control systems, and content creation. Request a quote after defining the requirement and consult the presentation of SUBMERSCREEN to discover the concept.
| Item | Request clarification on |
|---|---|
| Studies | Mechanical integration, interfaces, lighting, and electrical coordination |
| Display | Dimensions, components, performance, and conditions of use |
| Control | Controls, programming, access, and potential offline operation |
| Content | Creation, formats, usage rights, and renewal |
| Installation | Included works, connections, testing, and exclusions |
| Follow-up | Documentation, maintenance, parts, and contractual warranties |
Regarding content, specifically check the authorizations required for its broadcast in your establishment. A video available online is not automatically reusable in a commercial set design. Defining who provides the media and who manages its renewal at the quote stage limits uncertainties after delivery.
FAQ — Submerged screens for pools and spas
Is a submerged screen a video projector?
No. The screen is integrated into the pool, whereas a video projector beams an image onto a surface. These approaches do not present the same integration, lighting, and maintenance constraints. One must compare the desired result in the actual location.
Can an existing pool be equipped?
This is a feasibility study. Interfaces with the vessel, cable runs, access, and maintenance can make the transformation significant. Plans and a technical site visit are necessary before announcing a solution.
Does the image remain visible in broad daylight?
The result depends on exposure, ambient light, the water, the content, and the viewing point. Expected performance must be defined and then verified for these conditions, rather than inferring the result from a single night-time photograph.
Is an IP rating enough?
No. You must know the conditions associated with the equipment and verify the complete system, particularly its interfaces and electrical safety. A component designation does not validate an entire aquatic installation.
What happens when the screen is turned off?
The appearance while at rest must be considered from the design stage: surface color, joint integration, pool lighting, and perception from the decks. A successful project must also work without animation.
Does pool maintenance change?
The protocol must incorporate the screen and its interfaces: compatible products, cleaning method, and technical operations. The system's instructions are in addition to those of the pool; they do not replace them.
Studying a submerged screen project with STEEL & STYLE
Send our design office the pool plans, desired layout, lighting conditions, a few content examples, and your timeline. Specify whether the pool is new or existing and who will be responsible for operation. These elements allow for the construction of a consistent technical and budgetary scope.
Discuss my submerged screen project
Editorial revision: September 28, 2026. Sources: SUBMERSCREEN presentation by STEEL & STYLE and public AFNOR sheet NF C 15-100-7-702, links in the text. The characteristics of each installation are defined in its technical file; no additional certification is asserted here.
