By Chiara Sebastiani
There is a subtle but substantial difference between building swimming pools and creating places of well-being: the former is a technical, measurable activity, made up of materials and projects; the second is art, care, sensitivity towards people and the territory. In Lucca, this philosophy bears the name of Systems-Pool, a company that this year proudly celebrates its forty years of activity.
Founded in 1985 by Fabrizio Di Gino, now joined by his daughters Francesca and Serena, Systems-Pool represents a virtuous example of a family business capable of evolving and resisting market changes, without ever losing sight of quality and the direct relationship with those who rely on their work. The path to the world of swimming pools, Fabrizio says with a smile, was born almost as a joke. At the time he was working in the paper industry, when his wife Natalia was involved as a translator for an Australian company that imported an innovative model of steel swimming pool. It was the beginning of an adventure that, in less than a year, transformed a temporary collaboration into a real enterprise.
From the beginning, Systems-Pool has been able to intertwine its growth with that of the Lucca and Tuscan territory. But soon the international appeal became decisive: the English and Germans, who had always been fascinated by the dream of the farmhouse with garden and swimming pool, represented an important slice of the clients. Today, alongside them, there are Americans, French and increasingly Scandinavians, attracted by the charm of the Tuscan countryside. For these new foreign citizens, the swimming pool is not just an optional, but an integral part of the imagination of life in Italy. “For them, quality and safety are essential values,” Francesca points out, “and they choose us because they know they can count on a serious company, which keeps what it promises.”
Systems-Pool’s activity is now divided between the construction of new swimming pools, the renovation of existing facilities and routine maintenance, which represents a significant portion of turnover.
Recent trends show a change in size and use: if in the 90s the standard pool was 6×12 meters, today smaller formats prevail, 4×9 or 5×10, more sustainable in terms of water consumption and more suitable for use beyond the summer months thanks to heating and covering.
A central issue remains that of safety. In France and Germany, the regulations are more stringent, but Systems-Pool still offers advanced solutions in Italy as well, especially for accommodation facilities. “Safety should never be an optional extra,” Fabrizio reiterates, “and often it is enough to show ‘any grandparent’ how the cover is able to support the weight of a child, so that it becomes a natural choice for the family.”
Alongside the swimming pool sector, the company has also developed a branch related to wellness over the years. As early as 1985, in fact, the company name spoke of “swimming pools and saunas”, anticipating a trend that today finds more and more application in accommodation facilities and farmhouses.
Whirlpools, mini-spas and relaxation solutions represent an added value that extends the tourist season and enriches the guest experience. “Wellness is strategic,” explains Serena, “because it allows you to use the spaces even in autumn and winter, offering comfort and quality of life.”
Systems-Pool integrates some international brands into its business that complete the offer related to wellness and outdoor spaces. HotSpring specializes in hot tubs, designed to combine comfort and practicality. Endless Pools offers compact solutions that allow you to swim or carry out water activities even in domestic contexts. Finally, Gibus creates elegant and functional pergolas and roofs for outdoor adjacencies.
What makes the history of Systems-Pool unique is above all the family dimension: Francesca and Serena, who grew up between projects and construction sites, have brought new energy and sensitivity, while keeping intact the bond with their father’s guidance. The other key principle for this family has always been the creation of a group of experienced collaborators who share the spirit and values of the company.
What emerges from the encounter with this working reality is the awareness that each swimming pool built is not just a technical work, but a small dream that takes shape. A dream that tells of the beauty of the Tuscan landscape, the solidity of an artisan tradition and the openness to a future made of technology but also of sustainability.
After forty years, Systems-Pool continues to build not only swimming pools, but places of life, well-being and conviviality, with the same passion that animated the first steps on that family land.
Info: Systems-Pool srl, Via Banchieri 28, Lucca / Tel. 0583 429333 / www.systems-pool.com
