Jacuzzis have become popular in luxury
gardens, far removed from sustainable design principles though they be.
Jacuzzis are genrally now made from acrylic but can be clad in Cedar or
redwood. Whirlpool effects are provided as an aid to relaxation. They
come in 'personal' and 'party' sizes. Jacuzzi chemicals are used to keep
the water safe. A dip in a jacuzzi tends to be invigorating if of short
duration but enervating if prolonged.
The plumbing arrangements for a jacuzzi are similar to those for an indoor
hot bath: there needs to be a hot supply, a cold supply and drainage.
Electrical fittings for jacuzzi whirlpool pumps and jets require particular
care for outdoor use (where the risk of physical damage to the wiring
is greater) - this type of pump was invented by the Jacuzzi company which
gave its name to jacuzzis.
There is much to be learned about the design of jacuzzis from the ways
in which our predecessors have enjoyed outdoor bathing in hot water. It
is a curious fact that a hot water bath in a hot climate can cool you
down, while a hot bath in a cool climate will warm you up. Why heat warms
is obvious. The explanation for a jacuzzi cooling you down is that it
removes surface salts and oils and opens the pores. Getting out of the
water also produces the sensation of moving to a cooler place.
Outdoor bathing obviously has a longer history than indoor bathing and
private outdoor open space is known to have been used for bathing since
ancient times. Stepwells were used for this purpose in Ancient India.
Gymnasiums in Ancient Greece contained bathing pools. The Romans introduced
the practice of bathing in hot water. Where possible, they used mineral
springs with naturally hot water. Where this was not available, they used
artificial heating systems, as at the Baths of Caracalla. This idea spread
throughout the Roman Empire. It influenced the making of jacuzzis in the
Islamic world and in northern Europe - including the baths in the Belgian
town of Spa which has given its name to this type of facility. The jacuzzi
is the modern equivalent of the ancient outdoor bathing facility.
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